Kolkata, February 15 From promoting salt-tolerant rice to raising awareness among local communities about climate change, children and young people from across West Bengal presented a range of suggestions to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans and the lives it sustains at a conclave organized by UNICEF.
More than 700 students from schools, colleges, and universities had gathered here on Saturday evening for a "Youth Conclave on Climate Action," aimed at raising awareness among young people about the escalating impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Sundarbans.
The event began with the public premiere of the documentary "Code Red Sundarbans" by filmmaker Suman Mukhopadhyay.
In a discussion following the screening, students, many from the island region, spoke about the recurring cyclones and tidal surges that have altered both the landscape and livelihoods. Several said that repeated flooding has increased soil salinity, sharply reducing the yield of rice and vegetables.
"Let us cultivate varieties of rice that can tolerate rising salinity. It may not happen overnight, but with government support, it is possible," said Titiksha Mandal, a Class X student from South 24 Parganas.
Recalling scenes from recent storms, she described how families spent anxious nights reinforcing embankments.
"I saw people lying side by side on earthen dykes, holding bundles of hay to prevent them from being washed away," she said, urging urban residents to stand in solidarity with island communities.
Responding to these concerns, West Bengal Disaster Management and Civil Defence Minister Javed Khan said that the state government is implementing development initiatives and preparing a master plan to ease the hardships faced by islanders.
He added that speedboat ambulances have been deployed at several points in the Sundarbans to ensure faster medical evacuation.
UNICEF's West Bengal Chief Dr Monjur Hossain emphasized the urgency of collective action.
"Mitigating climate change is no longer the sole responsibility of scientists. It is a shared responsibility. Young people are agents of change, and we want them to lead with ideas and action," he told the gathering.
UNICEF has been working with the state government and youth groups to advance climate mitigation efforts in the region.