Indo-German Partnership Brings Young Leaders Together to Accelerate Green and Sustainable Development
Delhi Aajkal Bureau , Delhi
12 August 2026
Marking the United Nations International Youth Day, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany hosted the 11th edition of the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP) Conversation Series. Titled ‘Young Voices for Sustainable Development’, the interactive session brought together young leaders, innovators, policymakers and development practitioners to discuss how youth can accelerate progress towards a more sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient future.
The discussion focused on the role of young people in advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through personal experiences and practical examples, the esteemed panel explored how young people are driving inclusive sustainable urbanisation and mobility, promoting clean energy solutions, advancing gender equality and leading climate action. The session also highlighted how bilateral partnerships can empower the next generation to translate ambition into meaningful impact.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Georg Enzweiler, Chargé d’ affaires, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany saying, “The greatest challenges of our time cannot be solved in isolation. They require partnerships, between governments and businesses, scientists and entrepreneurs, and above all, between people. Young people are not simply the leaders of tomorrow; they are already shaping the future today. They are driving innovation, building solutions and challenging us to think differently about sustainability, climate justice and inclusion. The Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) is built on the belief that lasting change comes through partnerships, and young people are essential partners in that journey.”
A key highlight of the event was the fishbowl discussion, an interactive format that encouraged active participation from both speakers and the audience. Moderated by Ms Jasmine Kaur, Officer in the Embassy’s Economic Cooperation and Development Division, the discussion featured:
● Prateek Khandelwal, Founder, RampMyCity
● Dr Priyanshi Chauhan, Energy Advisor, GIZ India
● Ronak Jogeshwar, Senior Fellow, Viksit Bharat Program
● Pallavi Agrawal, Programme Analyst, UN Women India.
The panellists shared insights on advancing sustainable cities, expanding access to clean energy, promoting gender equality and strengthening climate action through innovation, collaboration and youth leadership. The four panellists further elaborated on the role of youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing sustainability challenges. Together, they demonstrated how youth perspectives can help translate the SDGs into tangible action.
Alongside the discussion, the event featured an exhibition showcasing innovations developed by young changemakers from across India. The exhibition highlighted practical solutions addressing challenges related to inclusive sustainable public transport and cities, climate action, clean energy and gender equality, while recognising the contributions of emerging innovators and inspiring greater youth participation in sustainable development.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Pamela Baijal, Deputy Head of the Economic Cooperation and Development Division, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, who thanked the speakers, exhibitors and participants for their valuable contributions and reiterated the importance of the young voices within the collaboration between India and Germany in advancing sustainable development.
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