Ekta Sati currently works with the Ministry of Environment, blending legal acumen with heartfelt advocacy for the planet. With over three years of experience, a Master’s in Environmental Law from Jindal, and work with WWF-India and Sankalptaru, she brings policy to life. Passionate about storytelling, she writes on climate and the changemakers shaping a greener tomorrow.

Once known for its cool breeze and whispering pines, Dehradun is now sweating under a sun it no longer recognises. Summer temperatures that once hovered comfortably below 40°C now routinely breach 45°C, baking the Doon Valley and signalling an environmental crisis that’s impossible to ignore.

In response, residents — especially the youth — are showing up, speaking out, and pushing back.

From students to long-time environmentalists, people across Dehradun are coming together in a fresh wave of collective action. The movement is rooted in the city’s legacy of resistance, much like the Chipko Movement of 1973 that began here under Sunderlal Bahuguna. Sparked by large-scale infrastructure plans—such as the Jolly Grant Airport expansion and roadworks cutting through elephant corridors—residents are mobilising to protect Dehradun’s forests and wildlife.

Youth-led protests have already helped stop the illegal denotification of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, preventing the displacement of leopards, sloth bears, and over 315 species of birds.

This article explores how Dehradun’s youth, organisations, and legal advocates are leading the charge, achieving tangible victories in their fight for sustainability, and contributing to India’s broader climate goals, such as reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 under SDG 13 (Climate Action).

A generation that refuses to look away

Dehradun’s youth are playing a central role in the city’s growing environmental movement. They are participating in clean-up drives, organising rallies, and raising awareness about the impact of deforestation and pollution.

Among them is Miss Gargi, a first-year student at Graphic Era University and a resident of Bhaniyawala. She has been actively involved in protests against the plan to cut down 4,300 trees along the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh stretch for a road-widening project.

“The loss of these trees doesn’t just affect us residents; it endangers the Shivalik Elephant Reserve’s biodiversity, which consists of elephants, tigers, and various deer species like Sambar, Barking deer, and Spotted deer,” she said, her voice filled with urgency.

Gargi, along with several other students, has helped organise awareness campaigns, circulated online petitions, and taken part in peaceful demonstrations.

“Policymakers often ignore how these trees regulate our climate, keeping temperatures bearable. Without them, Dehradun’s air quality has worsened, with the AQI spiking to unhealthy levels during summer months.”

Their efforts have contributed to slowing down the tree felling in the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh area. More........

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