On a journey to create awareness about climate change, a group of feisty youth made a stopover in Pune

To say that climate change is the next major world crisis would be the understatement of the year. To bring home the immediacy of the problem, a group of young individuals from across India and around the world have started off on the journey of a lifetime. Called the Climate Solutions Road Tour (CSRT), it's been organised by the Indian Youth Climate network (IYCN) in an effort to highlight India's local eco-solutions and empower youth on one of the greatest challenges of our time -- global climate change. In Pune to highlight the severity of climate change and provide sustainable solutions, the CSRT organized an event at the Indira Gandhi Prathmik Shaala, Aundh on Thursday morning. Apart from a performance by the band Solar Punch, the event also saw a dance troupe from Shiamak Davar's Victory Arts Foundation performing for the schoolchildren.

Equipped with three solar plug-in electric Reva vehicles, alternatively fueled vehicles and solar powered band, CSRT will be travelling more than 3500 kilometers to bring home the message of protecting the environment. "The cars we travel in are totally environment-friendly and so is the band. We use only solar powered electrical equipment for the performance by the band and also charge our laptops and mobile phones through solar energy," says Abhishek Bhardawaj, a member of IYCN. "This road trip is an attempt by us to begin a national campaign to promote ecology, create awareness about ecological balance and its advantages and suggest other climatic solutions," he adds.

... contd.