At just 23, Shibani Padhy from Odisha has emerged as one of India’s most promising young voices in climate advocacy, representing not just her state, but the entire country, on one of the world’s biggest stages for environmental action: the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
With a calm conviction and fierce determination, Shibani spoke on behalf of thousands of youth who are re-imagining the future of conservation through technology, community participation, and empathy for nature. Her presence at the Changemakers session of the Congress wasn’t just symbolic, it was a statement that India’s next generation is ready to lead.
From Odisha to the World Stage
Hailing from Odisha, a state rich in biodiversity yet deeply vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Shibani’s journey began with local clean-up drives and environmental education initiatives. Over time, her grassroots work evolved into the creation of Sattvic Soul Foundation, a youth-led organisation focusing on sustainability, waste management, and biodiversity conservation.
Through this platform, she has been working tirelessly to make environmental action both accessible and aspirational for young Indians. Her vision is clear: “Conservation must begin at home, but it should speak the language of innovation,” she says in her public statements.
Her story resonates because it’s rooted in the soil of Odisha, a land that has faced cyclones, floods, and ecological degradation, and yet continues to produce some of India’s most resilient environmental champions.
Project Dolphin: A Fusion of Tech and Ecology
Among her most notable initiatives is Project Dolphin, a technology-driven system that employs machine learning to detect plastics in freshwater bodies. This innovation doesn’t just reflect her technical acumen, it reflects a new kind of environmentalism that marries data science with compassion for the planet’s ecosystems.
The project has drawn attention from international conservationists for its potential to help reduce plastic pollution in river systems, one of India’s most pressing environmental challenges. It’s a model that can be scaled across developing nations where manual waste monitoring remains a struggle.
By integrating artificial intelligence into conservation, Shibani’s work bridges the gap between science, activism, and public engagement, a rare combination in a world where climate discourse often remains confined to policy rooms.
Youth Mobilisation and Community Change
Beyond technology, Shibani’s power lies in her ability to mobilise. Through her initiatives under Sattvic Soul Foundation, she has inspired over 10,000 young volunteers across India to take part in beach cleanups, mangrove planting drives, and community awareness campaigns.
Her projects are known for blending creativity with environmental messaging, from creating plastic mural art made from discarded bottle caps to launching education workshops in rural schools that teach children about sustainability using games and visual storytelling.
In an age of climate anxiety, Shibani’s approach re-introduces hope, showing that environmental change doesn’t always need to start in parliament or a lab. Sometimes, it begins in a classroom, a college club, or a coastal cleanup drive led by ordinary citizens who care.
Global Recognition at IUCN Congress
The IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi brought together scientists, policymakers, activists, and innovators from around the world. For Shibani, it was a defining moment, an opportunity to represent the voice of India’s youth on an international platform where decisions about the planet’s future are shaped.
In the Changemakers session, she presented her vision for how local actions, supported by digital tools and strong community ties, can influence global outcomes. She emphasised the importance of youth-driven innovation in tackling biodiversity loss and waste management, earning praise from senior delegates and fellow changemakers alike.
Her participation reflects a growing global recognition that India’s youth movement is no longer a peripheral voice in climate discussions, it’s a driving force of practical, technology-enabled solutions.
Redefining Conservation for a New Generation
What makes Shibani Padhy’s story remarkable is how she represents a shift in how young Indians perceive climate work. To her, environmentalism isn’t just protest, it’s participation. It’s not a guilt-based narrative of loss, but a creative pursuit of renewal.
Her leadership is grounded in the belief that every village, school, and city can become a node in a network of positive environmental change. By re-imagining how conservation can integrate with modern life- from the clothes we wear to the apps we build, Shibani represents a generation that is as comfortable with code as it is with compost.
As she stood among global change makers in Abu Dhabi, it was clear that her journey is only beginning. The applause that followed her presentation wasn’t just for one young woman, it was for the idea that the future of conservation belongs to those who refuse to wait for permission to act.
A Role Model for India’s Green Future
Back home, Shibani Padhy’s recognition at the IUCN Congress is being celebrated by youth networks, environmental groups, and educational institutions across Odisha and beyond. For many students, she is proof that one individual, when guided by purpose and persistence, can move mountains, or at least clean them of plastic.
Her journey reflects a broader transformation underway in India, one where young innovators are not only participating in global sustainability dialogues but actively shaping them.
As the planet faces an uncertain ecological future, voices like Shibani’s remind us that hope is still a renewable resource, and it’s being replenished by a generation determined to heal what was once thought irreversible.
