Nourishing Now
About Nourishing Now
ComMutiny and the vartaLeap coalition[1] have been working to realise this mission that inspires ‘Every Youth a Jagrik [2]and Every Space Nurturing Jagriks’. This mission, though audacious, is achievable if we can co-create empowering spaces that transform young people into self-awakened, active citizens.
Today, we cannot talk of active citizenship without looking at climate change, which has emerged as one of the most critical challenges of our time, affecting every aspect of human existence. It would not be wrong to say that in our human quest to dominate the world, somewhere we have lost our connection and empathy for the natural world which sustains our very existence.
The uncertainty and fear associated with an increasingly unpredictable climate contribute to eco-anxiety, especially among vulnerable populations. However, even if a majority of young people realise that they stand to lose the most from climate inaction, it is still a far-away nightmare. It remains more intellectual than visceral. The few who do feel inspired often find themselves ill-equipped to take climate action. Moreover, popular narratives around climate action are often focused on the fear of a dark and gloomy future. However, this may not be the most enticing narrative to inspire us to act! While there is a growing urgency, the discussions and actions remain on the fringes.
So, how do we make climate action inspiring? We believe that compelling experiences that nourish the 'self' and build a connection with the 'climate' can inspire young people to turn this narrative around. We acknowledge that lasting climate solutions require a blend of individual responsibility, collective action, and deep empathy for the natural world. For climate action to become a movement driven by inspiration, our approach must be rooted in hope and nourishment in the present moment, by shifting our perspective to the ‘Nourishing Now’ rather than a ‘Frightening Future.’
For this, we need to:
The Nourishing Now Framework represents a paradigm shift in how we approach climate action. It is a movement designed to inspire and mobilise collective climate action. It shifts the focus from a fear-based narrative to one grounded in hope, empowerment, and shared responsibility. This framework not only encourages action but also fosters deeper connections—between individuals, their communities, and the planet.
The NOURISH Principles guide this transformation by addressing the intersectionality of climate issues, fostering collaboration, and inspiring long-term commitment to sustainability. By nurturing needs, uncovering mainstream narratives, realising both short- and long-term goals, and fostering hope and agency, the NOURISH Principles provide a blueprint for transforming climate action into an inspiring movement. These principles have been conceptualised to help various stakeholders integrate climate action into their daily lives, while promoting well-being, connection, and inclusivity.
Background
In today's landscape, the bulging youth demographic holds immense potential to shape and build our nation. Yet, unlocking this potential necessitates the co-creation of conducive spaces, contexts, and narratives wherein young people (18-35 years) can exercise agency, make crucial decisions, and realise their full potential as change-makers in the world.ComMutiny and the vartaLeap coalition[1] have been working to realise this mission that inspires ‘Every Youth a Jagrik [2]and Every Space Nurturing Jagriks’. This mission, though audacious, is achievable if we can co-create empowering spaces that transform young people into self-awakened, active citizens.
The Challenge
Today, we cannot talk of active citizenship without looking at climate change, which has emerged as one of the most critical challenges of our time, affecting every aspect of human existence. It would not be wrong to say that in our human quest to dominate the world, somewhere we have lost our connection and empathy for the natural world which sustains our very existence.The uncertainty and fear associated with an increasingly unpredictable climate contribute to eco-anxiety, especially among vulnerable populations. However, even if a majority of young people realise that they stand to lose the most from climate inaction, it is still a far-away nightmare. It remains more intellectual than visceral. The few who do feel inspired often find themselves ill-equipped to take climate action. Moreover, popular narratives around climate action are often focused on the fear of a dark and gloomy future. However, this may not be the most enticing narrative to inspire us to act! While there is a growing urgency, the discussions and actions remain on the fringes.
So, how do we make climate action inspiring? We believe that compelling experiences that nourish the 'self' and build a connection with the 'climate' can inspire young people to turn this narrative around. We acknowledge that lasting climate solutions require a blend of individual responsibility, collective action, and deep empathy for the natural world. For climate action to become a movement driven by inspiration, our approach must be rooted in hope and nourishment in the present moment, by shifting our perspective to the ‘Nourishing Now’ rather than a ‘Frightening Future.’
For this, we need to:
- Move from a ‘frightening future’ narrative to a ‘nourishing now’ one.
- Influence other influencers who can convince their own communities about climate action as an imperative need from the vantage point of ‘inspired insiders’.
- Co-create norm-shifting actions and narratives that inspire producers and consumers to reimagine personal, social, and institutional pathways and change the usual ways of taking more climate-conscious actions.
Nourishing Now Narrative
The Nourishing Now Framework represents a paradigm shift in how we approach climate action. It is a movement designed to inspire and mobilise collective climate action. It shifts the focus from a fear-based narrative to one grounded in hope, empowerment, and shared responsibility. This framework not only encourages action but also fosters deeper connections—between individuals, their communities, and the planet.The NOURISH Principles guide this transformation by addressing the intersectionality of climate issues, fostering collaboration, and inspiring long-term commitment to sustainability. By nurturing needs, uncovering mainstream narratives, realising both short- and long-term goals, and fostering hope and agency, the NOURISH Principles provide a blueprint for transforming climate action into an inspiring movement. These principles have been conceptualised to help various stakeholders integrate climate action into their daily lives, while promoting well-being, connection, and inclusivity.
When it comes to young people, barring a few; a large section of them remain unenthused and uninspired to contribute meaningfully. There is a greater need to reimagine the way Climate Action is understood and make it inspiring and nourishing for young people. The answer lies in the intersection of psychological, economic, social and cultural needs. We must strive to curate experiences that keep these needs at the center and we believe it will have a magical effect on young people in building their faculties and also inspiring many others like them.
Changelooms-Youth Leaders in Climate Action (CL-YLCA) is one such leadership journey that identifies, nurtures and celebrates exceptional youth leaders committed to bring about self as well as community level norm shifts to address climate change.
For this year’s CL-YLCA journey we are inviting applications from dynamic and committed social initiatives/organisations from across India.
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NOURISH PRINCIPLES
Nourishing Now principles will form a blueprint for anyone or any stakeholder wanting to work on climate action by providing the framework of hope, agency, resilience, and elistating the action in the here and now.
Our narratives should:
- N - Nurture all the priority needs together.
Addressing the diverse social, cultural, psychological, economic, and ecological needs of young people and their communities, while fostering their aspirations for positive change. Fulfilling both recognised and unrecognised needs of young people and connecting climate action to their larger goals and passion. - O - Onboard all other themes by highlighting the intersectionalities.
Recognising and addressing the interconnectedness and interdependence of social (gender, inclusion), economic (livelihood), and environmental (humanitarian and resilience) issues, promoting collaboration across diverse communities. Identifying, articulating, and emphasising the immediate and tangible benefits of climate action for both organisations and young people. - U - Uncover the hidden layers of mainstream mindset.
What are the current mainstream narratives which promote certain behaviors and choices? Unpack and challenge dominant narratives that promote unsustainable behaviors. Unmask the hidden influences shaping consumption, production, and lifestyle choices, and empower individuals to make informed, eco-conscious decisions while holding producers accountable for sustainable practices. - R - Realise short-term and long-term goals.
Balancing short-term needs with long-term sustainability objectives, ensuring a positive impact for young people and communities. - I - Inspire influencers and insiders among all stakeholders to move from intention to action.
Mobilise community leaders, industry insiders, and organisational champions to turn intentions into tangible climate-positive actions to overcome structural and institutional barriers. Foster cross-generational co-leadership and embed sustainability into organisational values to drive continuous action. - S - Spark seeing, being, and doing together.
Ground climate action in experiential learning, fostering hands-on engagement, agency building, and ownership that creates new frames for seeing the world. Foregrounding feelings and not just facts. Advocating for solutions that enhance well-being, connection, and a sense of belonging, over the notion of sacrificing basic quality of life in the pursuit of climate goals. - H - Harness hope and agency.
Cultivate hope and optimism among young people, empowering them to believe in their ability to create a sustainable future.
