Hyderabad, July 18, 2026: Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern but an immediate challenge demanding collective action, responsibility, and conscious living, was the unanimous message that emerged from Symposium’s thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Will Future Generations Forgive Us?”, held on Friday till late night at Hotel Avasa, Madhapur, Hyderabad.
The invite-only, not-for-profit forum brought together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, environmentalists, and young changemakers to deliberate on the environmental legacy being left behind for future generations. The discussions continued late into the night, reflecting the depth of engagement and the significance of the subject.
Addressing the gathering, Shri N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Irrigation & CAD, Government of Telangana, said climate change is no longer a distant reality but a living reality reflected in unpredictable river levels, irrigation cycles, cropping patterns, and unstable water availability. He cautioned that Telangana is heading towards a rain-deficit, drought-like year owing to the impact of El Niño and observed that historical data alone is no longer adequate to predict emerging water management challenges.
The Minister pointed out that Telangana depends more on rainfall received in Maharashtra and Karnataka than on rainfall within the State itself. He highlighted the alarming depletion of groundwater levels, noting that while groundwater was once available at around 50 feet, in many parts of Hyderabad it now requires drilling to depths of nearly 1,000 feet. Stressing the urgency of rainwater harvesting and scientific water management, he said the State Government is integrating multiple systems to better predict climate-related uncertainties and support farmers.
He also highlighted HYDRAA as one of the country’s most proactive initiatives for protecting lakes, water bodies, and drainage systems.
Opening the discussion, Mr. Girish Mallpani, Founder & Chairman of Symposium, remarked that “the most dangerous place on earth is not a war zone; it is the gap between what we know and how we live.” Calling upon every individual to adopt a more conscious lifestyle, he urged the audience to make a lifelong commitment to protecting the planet so that future generations inherit a healthier and more sustainable world.
The evening featured inspiring presentations by Avyana Mehta and Ariana Agarwal, winners of the Global Earth Prize 2026 and founders of Plas-Stic, an innovative solution developed from tamarind seed waste to remove microplastics from drinking water. Motivated by the reality that nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, the young innovators explained how their eco-friendly, bio-magnetic natural coagulant can remove 87 percent of microplastics from 1,000 litres of water for less than one US dollar, without requiring electricity or complex infrastructure. Their innovation was selected from among regional winners representing 169 countries to receive the Global Earth Prize 2026. They concluded with a powerful appeal to the audience: “Be part of the solution, not part of the pollution.”
Moderating the discussion, Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), highlighted the growing impact of climate change on food systems. She observed that the likelihood of consuming plastic through fish has increased significantly because of widespread microplastic pollution in water bodies. She emphasized that food security is among the greatest casualties of climate change and that safeguarding food systems requires urgent climate action.
Speaking on Hyderabad’s environmental transformation, Prof. Asif Qureshi, Head, Department of Climate Change, IIT Hyderabad, expressed concern over the city’s rapidly declining green cover. He warned that if current trends continue, Hyderabad could reach a stage by 2035 where there would be virtually no space left to plant additional trees, making urban ecological restoration increasingly difficult.
Mr. Goutham Reddy, Chairman, CII Telangana, observed that pollution is fundamentally an outcome of human activity. While every economic activity has an environmental footprint, he said sustainable development is about balancing growth with responsibility and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy environment along with economic prosperity.
Environmentalist and Waterman of Odisha, Mr. Ranjan Panda, stressed that legislation alone cannot solve environmental problems. He remarked that unless laws are supported by common sense, civic responsibility, and a deep internalisation of sustainable values among citizens, meaningful behavioural change would remain elusive.
Recognising outstanding grassroots environmental leadership, Symposium conferred Special Honours for Environmental Impact on Manveer Singh (“Plasticvalla”) and Dusharla Sathyanarayana (“Forestman”) of Telangana. As part of the recognition, Symposium presented a cheque for ₹1 lakh to Dusharla Sathyanarayana in appreciation of his exceptional and enduring contribution towards environmental conservation and afforestation.
The organizers reiterated that climate change is not merely an environmental issue but an economic, social, developmental, and moral challenge requiring collaboration between governments, businesses, academia, civil society, and citizens. Through meaningful conversations and actionable outcomes, Symposium continues to create a platform that inspires responsible leadership and informed decision-making for a more sustainable future.
Founded as a platform where visionaries converge, Symposium has steadily emerged as a forum for high-quality discussions that encourage reflection, learning, and action. Through conversations that matter, it seeks to inspire responsible leadership and informed decision-making in an increasingly interconnected world.
