Hanlon: Climate Change Is Daily Reality, Act Now

Bhopal: “Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is our daily reality. We must hold ourselves and one another accountable and act now to protect our shared future,” said William Hanlon, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Madhya Pradesh, as he delivered the keynote at Youth for Climate Action ahead of World Environment Day here on Wednesday.Organised by the Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO) with UNICEF, the youth dialogue gathered students from Dhar, Dewas, Indore, Betul, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and climate advocates under the theme Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Future.Sessions spotlighted rising temperatures, water stress, and nature-based solutions. EPCO’s Lokendra Thakkar stressed collective responsibility, while UNICEF’s Anil Gulati urged youth to “say no to plastic and save water.” The event closed with sapling plantation at EPCO Knowledge Centre, underscoring youth leadership in building a climate-resilient future.