Students to lead climate debate at Makkala Climate Action Sabhe

The Greater Bangalore Authority’s (GBA) Climate Action Cell will host the Makkala Climate Action Sabhe 2025, a citywide youth-led dialogue on climate challenges, on November 7 at Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall. 

The event will bring together students from schools and PU colleges across Bengaluru to debate and propose local solutions to climate issues, from waste management and water use to renewable energy and biodiversity. The initiative is led by Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner, Forests, Environment, and Climate Change (FECC), Disaster Management, Public Relations, and Coordination, who said the programme aims to make “young voices central to Bengaluru’s climate action efforts.” 

The Climate Action Cell received 85 registrations from schools and PU colleges across all five municipal corporations. Preliminary selection rounds, held on October 28–30 at the GBA head office, evaluated student clubs on their understanding, engagement, and articulation of climate themes. A total of 20 Climate Action Clubs, representing schools and PU colleges from all five city corporations, were shortlisted for the final city-level debate.  

Walk to highlight footpath importance

To mark Karnataka Rajyotsava, the GBA on Saturday (November 1) organised ‘Rajyotsava Padachari Nadige – 11K’, a 11-km citizen walk aimed at highlighting the importance of footpaths and creating a “walkable city”. 

Over 75 citizens participated in the early-morning walk, which began at Vidhana Soudha. The event encouraged participants to experience the city’s pedestrian infrastructure firsthand and assess its walkability. Citizens rated the footpaths based on obstacles such as debris, garbage, broken slabs, poles, and fallen trees.