Professor Solanki, who visited Apeejay School, Noida, is on a mission to inspire climate action for nationwide sustainability
By Abhilasha Munjal: Addressing the urgent need for environmental sustainability, a nationwide movement is inspiring individuals to adopt renewable energy and rethink their daily consumption habits. It seeks to spark awareness, drive action, and foster long-term change in the fight against climate change.
Meet Professor Chetan Singh Solanki — a distinguished educator, researcher, innovator, and certified teacher of the Art of Living’s Happiness programme.
Currently on unpaid leave from IIT Bombay, he embarked on the Energy Swaraj Yatra in November 2020. This extraordinary 11-year journey aboard a solar-powered bus is set to continue until 2030, during which he has pledged not to return home.
The yatra, designed to address urgent climate change challenges, aims to spark a broad movement for 100 per cent solar energy adoption. Professor Solanki’s remarkable journey has earned accolades, including a commendation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Recently, he visited Apeejay School, Noida, to discuss and had an interactive session on climate change with the students.
In a candid interview, he discussed various ways in which a human being can bring change for a better tomorrow.
How did you feel when you entered the premises of Apeejay School, Noida?
I felt really good. The arrangements were well-organised, and it’s always refreshing to interact with the younger generation. They are the ones who will shape a better tomorrow for our planet.
What is your purpose of the discussion today?
I’m here to talk about the environmental challenges we face today, especially climate change, and how solutions like solar energy can lead us toward a better future.
As someone already working towards it, I believe students have a vital role to play. Through awareness, action, and innovation, you can help drive the shift to renewable energy and build a more sustainable world.
What was your inspiration for starting the Energy Swaraj project?
When a tiger is chasing you, do you need motivation to run? No, you just run. In the same way, when we look around and see our air polluted, soil degraded, water contaminated, temperatures rising, and garbage piling up, we shouldn’t need extra inspiration to act.
The crisis is already here. My mission and vision are clear: to change the way we are living today, because the current path is simply not sustainable. If we don’t act now, this way of life will lead us to disaster.
What is your larger perspective on solving the problem of climate change?
One truth we often forget is that while science, technology, and the economy can grow, the size of our planet cannot. Its resources are limited. Yet, consumption is rising rapidly because the population is growing, and so are our desires — bigger homes, more cars, frequent travel, more stuff in our cupboards.
But think about it — if your salary is fixed, can your spending be unlimited? No. Similarly, with a fixed-size planet, our consumption must be limited.
That’s the only sustainable solution. We need to rethink everything we consume in 24 hours — water, food, clothes, vehicles, electronics, even screen time. Because every single thing we use has a cost on the planet.
What are the basic measures to get started with?
I’ve made some simple but powerful changes in my life to reduce energy consumption. No geysers, no air conditioners, I stopped ironing clothes, and I don’t buy clothes as often. I even stopped using soap and taking long baths.
These may seem small, but they’ve made me healthier and happier. The point is, drastic measures are necessary, and they need to happen right now. If we’re not taking immediate and significant action, anything we do will just be a feel-good gesture. So, what can schools do?
What steps can we take right now to conserve energy and resources more effectively? It’s up to us to make a change, and it starts with each of us.
What message would you like to give to the school faculty and students?
Think about this: In 30 or 40 years, your parents and teachers might not be here, but you will be. The reality is that as time passes, the situation is only getting worse. Temperatures are rising, pollution is increasing, and the world we know is changing.
The truth is, to live on this planet, we don’t just need money, technology, and science. We need air, water, and soil. These are the essentials for life, yet we often forget how our actions impact the environment. Even something as simple as using a paper napkin has a cost.
I want you to think about the future; your future. The choices you make today will determine what kind of world you live in tomorrow. So, be aware of what you’re doing and how it affects the planet.
Source: www.apeejay.news
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