Mumbai University, Bristol University launch Cool Climb climate project with local communities

The University of Mumbai and the University of Bristol in the UK have jointly launched a project called "Cool Climb" to develop sustainable local solutions to the challenges of climate change. The project is running under the British Council-HSBC Climate Skills Global Collaboration Grants.

Through the project, young people are being trained in green skills, green entrepreneurship is being promoted and community-based climate action is being speeded up.

The project is being run in coordination with the University of Mumbai's Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies. Dr Aparna Phadke is leading it, while Prof Indu George and Prof Smita Shukla are co-coordinators. Bristol's Brigstow Institute and Cabot Institute are also supporting the initiative.

Under it, six communities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Konkan are studying environmental problems through co-creation labs. Solutions suited to local needs are being developed on that basis. So far, 41 institutions in India have joined the initiative.

A special event called the "Re-Root Showcase" was held to take stock of the work done and the results achieved. It was chaired by University of Mumbai Vice-Chancellor Prof Ravindra Kulkarni. He stressed the importance of everyone working together to tackle solid waste management and the challenges of climate change. Prof Agnes Nairn of the University of Bristol and Rashi Jain and Anu Thampi of the British Council were also present.

Five young representatives of Bristol's communities visited the University of Mumbai between October 12 and 16. They were accompanied by Prof Liang Fong Wang, Dr Goya Wilson and Dr Penn Williams. During the visit, the Bristol representatives toured two co-creation labs, Juhu Mora village in Mumbai and Thane solid waste management, and spoke directly to local people.

Now it is the University of Mumbai's turn. Five student representatives of the university will travel to Bristol between October 29 and November 5, led by Dr Aparna Phadke. There they will study methods of community-based climate adaptation and share their experiences.

The Re-Root programme held discussion sessions and workshops on topics such as the shortage of green skills, eco-friendly new ideas and communities' capacity to adapt to climate change. The international collaboration will give young people the chance to learn from direct experience.