The Climate Project, Sierra Club Launch India Chapters

Led by Nobel laureate Al Gore, The Climate Project (TCP) – a US based non-profit organization — took the lead on March 15th, 2008 in launching its India chapter by training over a hundred enthusiastic representatives of business, politics and civic society. Dr. R.K. Pachauri, chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the other half of the Nobel Peace Prize 2007 was also present at this Climate Change leadership Program.

Declaring the emerging economy of India to be the future of the world, Mr. Gore asked for greater participation by all Indians in the efforts to combat climate change and secure a safer tomorrow. He also called for raising global consciousness to a higher level to address several of the so-called political challenges being faced in different parts of the world today. Developing the capacity for a vision and building a moral authority are essential to taking action together as a civilization. That according to Mr. Gore, is also the need of the hour.

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The presence of the dual climate crusaders - Al Gore and Dr. R.K. Pachauri throughout the training Program left a lasting impression on many, including myself.

The Climate Project - India (TCP-India) is being setup as an independent organization. It presently enjoys deep support from the JSW Foundation and is actively seeking support from a broad base of Indian Business and Philanthropic organizations.

Barely a month later on April 3rd 2008, the Sierra Club, the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the U.S. announced the establishing of a Center for Green Livelihoods in India for partnering with civil society organizations to explore ways of creating a robust dialogue towards developing a green economy. Mr. Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club also announced a new $100,000 “Green Energy and Green Livelihoods Achievement Award” to recognize “outstanding environmental success in India” by civil society organizations – non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, small businesses and labor unions working at the grassroots level in India.

Stephen Mills, Director, International Programs at Sierra Club, who was also a facilitator at the TCP/Al Gore Climate Change leadership Program mentioned above, had emphasized the need to encourage the green work being done in India during the leadership program itself. In a press release announcing the launch of the Sierra Club’s India chapter, he clarified that the new India initiative will in no way lessen the vigor of the Sierra Club’s U.S. campaigning to push both the American public and the government to drastically reduce America’s over consumption of natural resources,”

Sierra Club’s ‘I’m here to save the planet’ batches distributed by Stephen Mills during the Climate Change program gained much popularity and were worn by young and old alike!

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