The Mobius Climate Project, first implemented in Nagaland during 2023–2024, will now expand across all seven Northeastern states, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang announced during the project commencement program held at Hotel Vivor, Kohima, on Wednesday, 18 June.
Zeliang described the expansion as a “testament to the power of collaboration between government, academia, civil society, and visionary organizations like the Mobius Foundation.” He highlighted that the project has already brought significant changes in Nagaland by selecting and training Young Climate Professionals who are bridging research, policy, and grassroots action.
“From reviving indigenous practices to educating schoolchildren through the Pani-Pahar curriculum, these efforts are sowing the seeds of sustainability in our youth,” Zeliang stated.
The program witnessed the presence of key dignitaries including Hekani Jakhalu, Advisor for Industries & Commerce; Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of IDAN; Dr Atoho Jakhalu, Project Lead of the Mobius Climate Project; Dr Ram Boojh, Advisor to the Mobius Foundation; Praveen Garg (IAS Retd.), President of the Mobius Foundation; and Pradip Burman, Founder and Chairman of the Mobius Foundation.
With this expansion, 63 young climate leaders—nine from each Northeastern state—will be trained to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern policy frameworks. The Deputy CM expressed confidence that this cohort would “safeguard our forests, educate our communities, and champion policies that honour our heritage while securing our ecological future.”
Nagaland, with its rich biodiversity but increasing vulnerability to deforestation and climate change, was chosen as the pilot state for the project. Drawing from its success, Zeliang affirmed that the initiative will now focus on addressing regional climate challenges—deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ecological imbalance—across the entire Northeast.
Highlighting the work of the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission as an example of blending traditional knowledge with sustainable practices, he said, “We are proving that local solutions hold global relevance.”
Quoting, “The earth is not inherited from our parents, it is borrowed from our children,” Zeliang called for a collective resolve to “return it with interest, through knowledge, stewardship, and unwavering resolve.”
He also underlined the urgent need to improve environmental awareness in the region, noting that despite being a biodiversity hotspot, Northeast India suffers from low climate literacy due to educational and infrastructural gaps.
“Initiatives like the Mobius Project are vital,” he said, “because without awareness, even well-meaning development can destabilize fragile ecosystems.”