PRESS RELEASE
CLIMATE ACTION MONTH 2026 - INAUGURAL EVENT
Date: Tuesday, 1st July
Time: 10.00 AM
Venue: DG Vaishnav College
SPECIAL GUESTS
Mr. Tushar Shrihari Shinde, I.F.S., Assistant Mission Director, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission.
Mr. Akella Chaitanya Madhavudu, I.F.S., Assistant Mission Director, Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission.
Chennai
For Immediate Release
The fifth edition of Climate Action Month 2026 (CAM), a month-long campaign of climate-focused events across Chennai, was inaugurated today at DG Vaishnav College. Welcoming the gathering, Ms. S. Saroja, Executive Director of Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), the organisation behind CAM, described the initiative as a platform that brings together communities, policymakers, activists, young people and the wider public to foster meaningful dialogue, encourage collaboration and inspire collective action to address the climate crisis.
The urgency to address climate change is becoming increasingly undeniable. What were once distant warnings and scientific projections have now become visible realities, with extreme weather events becoming part of everyday life. Recent assessments highlight India's growing vulnerability, with the country experiencing an alarming rise in climate-related disasters. Between January and November 2025, India witnessed extreme weather events on 331 of the 334 days, affecting millions through floods, heatwaves, storms and other climate-driven impacts—a clear indication that climate change is no longer a future threat but a present challenge requiring immediate action. Reinforcing this message, Mr. Tushar Shrihari Shinde, I.F.S., Assistant Mission Director, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, reminded participants that while no one is immune to climate change, its impacts are felt first and most severely by vulnerable communities, including farmers.
While strong policy and institutional leadership are essential to addressing the climate crisis, lasting change can only be achieved when governments, communities and individuals work together. Mr. JP Jaideep, Head of the Department of Economics, DG Vaishnav College, emphasised this shared responsibility. Echoing the sentiment, Mr. Akella Chaitanya Madhavudu, I.F.S., Assistant Mission Director, Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, cautioned that when an issue becomes "everyone's responsibility", it often risks becoming "no one's responsibility"—a pattern evident in civic challenges such as solid waste management.
CAM will take place throughout July, bringing together a dynamic blend of art performances, interactive workshops, community-led initiatives, guided nature walks, panel discussions and expert talks to deepen climate awareness and inspire meaningful action.
Building on the success of its previous four editions, which collectively engaged more than 48,000 participants, CAM 2026 expands its focus to include the often-overlooked yet rapidly growing issue of short-lived electronic accessories and their environmental impact, alongside ocean science, green employment opportunities, solid waste management and community climate action.
Press contact: Vamsi Sankar Kapilavai, Mobile: +91 9493892929
Email ID: vamsishankar.kapilavai@cag.org.in
About CAG: Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) is a forty-year-old non-profit, non-political and professional organisation that works towards protecting citizens' rights in consumer and environmental issues and promoting good governance processes, including transparency, accountability and participatory decision-making.