25 February 2026·PIB

Union Environment Minister inaugurates TERI's World Sustainable Development Summit 2026 and MoEFCC’s Him-CONNECT platform

In this note

1. At a Glance

WSDS 2026 = TERI's flagship Silver Jubilee (25th) edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit, held 25–27 Feb 2026, New Delhi; inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav [1][2].
Him-CONNECT = a new MoEFCC platform launched on the sidelines of WSDS to connect researchers in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with start-ups, industry, investors and policymakers, translating research into scalable solutions [1][3].
Relevance: UPSC overlap on climate diplomacy (1.5 °C goal), Himalayan ecology, S&T-to-market linkage, NMHS, and science-society interface.

25 Feb 2026: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated WSDS 2026 + Him-CONNECT; flagged that the world is "not on track to limit warming to 1.5 °C" and called the climate challenge one of "scale and speed, not science" [1].
Silver Jubilee (25 yrs) of WSDS — a Global South sustainability forum [2].
Him-CONNECT exhibited 24+ technologies/prototypes/patents/pilots developed under National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) [2][3].

WSDS: TERI's annual summit; started 2001 as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, rebranded WSDS in 2015 post-SDG adoption; 2026 = 25th edition [2].
NMHS: MoEFCC's mission supporting 250+ action-oriented initiatives in IHR over a decade; nodal body G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora [3].
Him-CONNECT (2026): First structured MoEFCC platform to bridge science–society–industry for IHR research outcomes [1][3].

Organiser (WSDS): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi [1].
Organiser (Him-CONNECT): MoEFCC under NMHS [3].
Minister: Shri Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC [1].
Dates: WSDS 25–27 Feb 2026; Him-CONNECT public viewing 26–27 Feb 2026 [2][3].
Participating institutions in Him-CONNECT: IITs (Guwahati, Roorkee, Jodhpur, Jammu, Ropar, Mandi); CSIR-CRRI & CSIR-IHBT; Central Agricultural University, Imphal; NITs Silchar & Arunachal Pradesh; SKUAST-K; University of Kashmir; TERI-Guwahati; Kumaon University; GB Pant NIHE [3].
Sectors showcased: water security, climate adaptation, waste-to-wealth, sustainable building, renewable energy, nature-based livelihoods [3].
Tagline (Him-CONNECT): "Structured platform to translate research into scalable solutions; bridge between science and society" [1].

Environmental

IHR is a fragile, climate-sensitive ecosystem; Him-CONNECT focuses on field-validated solutions for water, adaptation, renewable energy [3].
Minister's warning aligns with UNFCCC/IPCC narrative that 1.5 °C Paris goal is slipping [1].

Scientific / Technological

Showcased 24+ technologies, prototypes, patents, pilots built under NMHS — moves research from lab to market [2][3].
Mechanism: link start-ups + investors + industry + policymakers for pilot deployment and co-financing [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

Him-CONNECT framed as instrument of South-South cooperation and replicable across other mountain/fragile regions globally [3].
WSDS is a Global South convening platform on sustainability [2].

Administrative / Governance

Strengthens MoEFCC's science-policy interface; complements existing MoEFCC coordination tools like NIRANTAR [3].
Federal angle: IHR spans 13 Indian States/UTs — central mission-mode linkage with state institutions (SKUAST-K, Kashmir Univ.) [3].

Economic

Sectors targeted (waste-to-wealth, nature-based livelihoods, renewables) tie to green jobs and mountain economies [3].

25 Feb 2026: WSDS 2026 + Him-CONNECT inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav [1].
26–27 Feb 2026: Him-CONNECT exhibition open to visitors [3].
Feb 2026: MoEFCC Secretary delivered WSDS 2026 valedictory address [4].
Feb 2025: Bhupender Yadav addressed WSDS 2025 inaugural — continuity of ministerial engagement [5].

WSDS is organised by TERI, not MoEFCC [1].
2026 edition = Silver Jubilee / 25th edition of WSDS [2].
Him-CONNECT is a MoEFCC initiative, not TERI's [1].
Him-CONNECT anchored under National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) [3].
NMHS nodal institution: G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) [3].
NMHS has supported 250+ initiatives over a decade [3].
24 innovators/technologies were showcased at Him-CONNECT [3].
Bhupender Yadav: climate challenge is one of "scale and speed, not science" [1].
Minister stated world is not on track for 1.5 °C Paris target [1].
Sectors: water security, climate adaptation, waste-to-wealth, sustainable building, renewable energy, nature-based livelihoods [3].
Him-CONNECT framed under South-South cooperation narrative [3].
WSDS launched as DSDS in 2001; rebranded WSDS in 2015 [2].

GS-III: Environment & Ecology (climate change, conservation of fragile ecosystems); S&T (research commercialisation).
GS-II: Government policies & institutional mechanisms; international forums (Paris goals).
Probable stems:
"Translating Himalayan research into market-ready solutions requires bridging science and society. Examine in light of MoEFCC's Him-CONNECT platform."
"The climate challenge is one of scale and speed, not science. Discuss India's institutional response."
"Assess the role of mission-mode programmes like NMHS in safeguarding the Indian Himalayan Region."

National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) — parent mission for Him-CONNECT.
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) — one of 8 NAPCC missions; do not confuse with NMHS.
NAPCC & SAPCCs — overarching climate architecture.
Paris Agreement 1.5 °C goal / Global Stocktake — context for Yadav's remarks.
GB Pant NIHE, Almora — nodal institution.
TERI / DSDS history — institutional background.
NIRANTAR platform (MoEFCC) — sister coordination platform.
Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) — 13 states/UTs — geography static.

Confusing NMHS (MoEFCC mission for IHR research) with NMSHE (NAPCC mission). Different missions.
Attributing WSDS to MoEFCC — it is organised by TERI (a non-government body); MoEFCC only co-launched Him-CONNECT on sidelines [1].
Treating Him-CONNECT as a DST/MoES platform — it is MoEFCC [1].
Mixing 2026 (Silver Jubilee, Bhupender Yadav inaugurated) with 2022 (PM Modi inaugurated WSDS) — different editions.
Assuming Him-CONNECT funds research — it is a bridging/linkage platform, not a funding scheme.