Proof of Concept: Climate Action Leadership Programme
Introduction
Our country is facing an interesting conundrum. On one side we are the youngest nation
in the world with an advantageous demographic dividend and on the other side we face
tremendous challenges of climate crisis and lack of employable skills amongst our
youth.
The Climate Action Leadership programme intends to act as a catalyst that bridges the
gap between these two problems by upskilling and empowering our youth on climate
action skills.
The North Bengal hills face an acute waste management crisis that affects the
environment, public health, and the quality of life for communities across the region.
Urban centers like Darjeeling, Gangtok, and Kalimpong generate an average of40
tonnesof unmanaged waste each daily, which is improperlydisposed of—dumped,
burned, or left to pollute. This problem is compounded by the unique challenges of hilly
terrains, where transportation of waste to distant processing hubs (often more than 60
km away) is both inefficient and costly.
North Bengal University (NBU), located in Siliguri, is a strategic institution serving a
vast network of 53 affiliated colleges. Transforming NBU into a zero waste campus
offers a unique opportunity to set a replicable model for sustainable waste management
across the region while also empowering students to become the next generation of
climate action leaders.
About TIEEDI Permaculture Foundation
Tieedi Permaculture Foundation is leading a transformative movement in the Eastern
Himalayas, turning waste into opportunity and communities into champions of
environmental stewardship. With over 650+ tons of waste diverted from landfills, three
zero-waste villages, and 200+ homes, schools, businesses, and monasteries achieving
zero-waste status, our impact is both measurable and scalable. Through decentralized
waste management, we actively process 2.5+ tons of waste monthly, have installed
250+ home and community composters, 150+ events, trained 1,500+ people in zero
waste principles, and pioneered recycling solutions for 50+ waste categories.
Recognized by the West Bengal government, awarded the SABERA Awards
(2021-2023), and featured in National Geographic, Tieedi is not just solving the waste
crisis—we are redefining sustainability by empowering individuals, businesses, and
policymakers to drive lasting ecological change.
Partnership with North Bengal University
NBU, with its extensive campus and diverse academic departments, grapples with
significant challenges in managing both solid and liquid waste. The daily operation of
the university generates waste from classrooms, hostels, canteens, and laboratories,
much of which is mixed and unsegregated. In addition, the campus is burdened by
liquid waste from various sources that pollutes the river flowing through the university.
The lack of a structured waste management system results in overfilled landfill areas
and hazardous practices such as open burning, which release toxic emissions into the
fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Our Proposed Solution
TIEEDI Permaculture Foundation proposes to address these challenges by
transforming NBU into a zero waste campus. Our approach will tackle both solid and
liquid waste, rejuvenating the polluted river and integrating sustainable practices across
the entire campus. The solution includes the following components:
● Decentralized Waste Management:
Each department, hostel, and living quarter at NBU will be equipped with
dedicated waste segregation bins and clear IEC materials. This ensures waste is
sorted at the source, improving the efficiency of downstream processing and
reducing contamination.
● Infrastructure and Transportation:
We plan to establish Waste Banks—modular units designed to handle various
waste types—and deploy an electric waste collection vehicle. With an optimized
route for weekly pickups, our system will minimize transportation costs while
ensuring timely collection of waste from across the campus.
● Liquid Waste Management and River Rejuvenation:
Our solution also addresses liquid waste. By setting up decentralized treatment
units, we aim to process grey and black water generated by campus facilities.
The treated water will be used to rejuvenate the river that runs through NBU,
restoring its ecological balance and opening up avenues for research and
community engagement.
Our Vision: Before and After
● Community Mobilization and Policy Advocacy:
Working closely with local municipal bodies and the panchayat, we will advocate
for establishing a formal Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that benefits both the
university and the surrounding communities. This collaborative approach ensures
that non-compostable dry waste is managed efficiently and sustainably.
Empowering Students as Climate Action Leaders
A cornerstone of our project is the empowerment of students. We will identify and train
students to become Climate Action Leaders (CALs)—individuals equipped with the skills
and knowledge needed to drive sustainable waste management. CALs will undergo
comprehensive training modules covering:
● An in-depth understanding of the climate crisis and its local impact,
● Holistic waste management techniques,
● DIY composting solutions (effective even at temperatures below 5°C),
● Permaculture principles and natural building methods,
● Natural farming, natural dyes, and zero waste living practices,
● Essential skills such as marketing, sales, and data analytics.
These training sessions will be hands-on and project-based. Students will implement
community impact projects.
Our pilot internship project at Sonada Degree College demonstrated that in just two
months, 10 interns diverted3.5 tonnesof waste and helped convert 50 households to
zero waste homes. Building on this success, we aim to scale up by training100 CALs
during the FY 2025-2026. These leaders will drive the transformation of NBU into a zero
waste campus and act as ambassadors for sustainable practices across the 53 affiliated
colleges.
Implementation Strategy
Our strategy is organized into four phases:
Phase 1: Awareness & Recruitment
● Launch#ZeroWasteAndolanthrough social media, workshops,and street
theatre.
● Conduct awaste auditacross NBU’s 30 departments.
● Recruit and train100 studentsas Climate Action Leaders(CALs).
Phase 2: Infrastructure & Training
● Installwaste segregation systemsacross departmentsand hostels.
● Set upWaste Banksfor decentralized waste processing.
● Deploy anelectric waste collection vehiclefor optimizedwaste pickup.
● Train CALs inwaste management, composting, and circulareconomy
practices.
Phase 3: Expansion & Community Engagement
● Scale upsolid and liquid waste managementsystems,including river
rejuvenation.
● Conductcleanup drives and awareness eventswith studentparticipation.
● Collaborate with the localgovernmentto establish a Material Recovery Facility
(MRF).
Phase 4: Institutionalization & Replication
● Transition project operations touniversity teamsand entrepreneursfor
sustainability.
● Certify trained students asClimate Action Leaders.
● Develop aZero Waste Campus Blueprintto scale themodel across NBU’s 53
affiliated colleges.
Benefits and Impact
This initiative will have far-reaching benefits:
● Environmental:Reduced landfill use, lower emissions from waste burning, and
improved water quality from rejuvenated rivers.
● Social:Empowered students become leaders and agents of change, reducing
youth migration and fostering local pride.
● Economic:Lower operational costs for waste management and the creation of
green jobs through waste-based enterprises.
● Policy:Data-driven insights will support policy interventions, driving regional
changes in waste management practices.
Conclusion
By partnering with North Bengal University, we have a unique opportunity to create a
replicable model for zero waste campuses. Empowering students as Climate Action
Leaders will not only transform the university’s waste management systems but also
equip a new generation with the skills and motivation to tackle environmental
challenges. This proof of concept shows that a focused, community-driven approach
can turn waste into a resource, setting a sustainable precedent for educational
institutions across North Bengal and beyond. This template can also be plugged and
played into any other university in India and thereby capitalising into the tremendous
demographic dividend of our country.