Remarkable dreams, ideas, and innovations, conceived and propelled by youth were the debutant stars of the annual POP Festival, 2019.

On August 19 and 20, 2019, students from universities around the world across countries like Mexico, Peru, South Africa, United States of America, Ukraine and India came together with youthful enthusiasm to participate in the International Conference and Festival for Youth-Led Climate Action, in Nayarit, México.  This two-day event hosted by the POP Movement was   tremendously rewarding and successful, as the international youth community showcased their wide range of sustainability initiatives that shared the vision of comprehensively addressing the growing environmental concerns.

The festival commenced with the distinguished presence of Dr. Ash Pachauri, POP Senior Mentor, Dra. Norma Patricia, POP Honorary Distinguished Mentor, Fernando Santiago Gómez Martínez, Project Coordinator in the Faculty of Chemistry at UNAM, Dra. Eire Reynaga Delgado from UDG (Representing Oscar Blanco Alonso, Academic Secretary from CUCEI) and Carlos Humberto Jiménez González, General Coordinator of the Delfin Program at the Autonomous University of Nayarit. The inauguration was also graced by POP Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri (via Skype), who motivated the young change makers to be leaders of climate action and stated the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals) in this continuing journey.

Having around 75 participants, this two-day festival was one of a kind as it served as a platform for sharing knowledge with a sustained festive element. A myriad of exhibits, workshops, presentations and activities, made interesting by the exuberance of youthful participation, revealed the overarching truth of the boundless potential that youth can collectively wield in transforming the threatened future as they lead with action inspired by knowledge.