Jaipur, August 29, 2025

“Telling Climate and Disaster Stories the Right Way is Essential” – Experts

In the wake of the recent devastating disasters in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, experts have emphasized the importance of responsible and evidence-based storytelling on climate change and disasters.

At the second Sustainability Webinar titled “Telling Climate and Disaster Stories the Right Way”, speakers highlighted that effective storytelling not only shapes public understanding but also guides society’s response to climate change and disasters. They stressed that the role of storytellers is not to sensationalize or shock, but to sensitize and create awareness.

The webinar was organized by “Voices of Bharat: Yuva for Sustainability” and featured a distinguished panel of speakers including Prof. Govind Singh (Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand), Prof. Kanchan K. Malik (University of Hyderabad), Meenakshi Gupta (Co-Founder, Goonj), Prof. Ramesh Menon (Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication), and Sarbjit Sahota (Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, UNICEF India).

Dr. Seema Agrawal, Principal, Kanoria PG Mahila Mahavidyalaya, delivered the welcome address.

Dr. Dev Swarup, Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma Skills University, in his special message while travelling to Jaisalmer Bikaner stated:
“We are living in a time when the mountains speak to us—not just in silence, but through landslides, floods, and disasters that shake entire communities. The recent events in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh remind us of how fragile our environment is and how swiftly life can change. But these events also pose a vital question: How do we tell these stories? As students, future leaders, and responsible citizens, your voices matter. The stories you choose to tell, and how you tell them, can shape how society understands climate change and disasters.”

Kalyan singh kothari ,co convenor of the campaign and implementing partner lok samvad sansthan -Secretary said that
The webinar underlined the power of personal narratives and data-driven storytelling in engaging audiences and conveying the real impacts of climate change and disasters.

Mr Rajiv Tikoo Convenor of The Voices of Bharat: Yuva for Sustainability said that initiative aims to empower young people to inspire environmental action through effective storytelling on climate change and sustainability. The program provides internships, workshops, and awards, equipping youth with the skills and platforms to create impactful content.

Naina Gautam ,well known Podcaster said that highlights of the webinar will be broadcast on All India Radio, including selected questions from the participants.