For 16-year-old Abhiveer Gulati, air pollution in Delhi is not just a seasonal problem that makes headlines every winter. Having grown up in the capital, he has seen how poor air quality affects people’s everyday lives, particularly children and workers who cannot avoid spending long hours outdoors. He also realised that the ability to protect oneself from polluted air is not the same for everyone. While some families can afford indoor air purifiers, many children living in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods have little protection.This concern led him to start the NCR Clean Air Campaign, a community-led initiative that combines public awareness, protective measures and legal action. The Delhi teenager has organised awareness workshops, worked with non-governmental organisations and residential associations, distributed protective masks and taken the issue of pollution accountability to court.His work has now earned him international recognition. Action For Nature, a US-based environmental organisation, named Abhiveer a 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Award winner, securing third place in the categories of Environmental Education and Awareness and Sustainable Cities and Communities. The organisation recognised his efforts to address air pollution and environmental inequality in Delhi-NCR.
What made him start the Clean Air Campaign?
In a video shared on Action For Nature’s official YouTube channel, Abhiveer introduced himself as a 16-year-old environmental activist based in New Delhi and explained why he started the campaign. “Having grown up in Delhi, I was aware that air pollution is not only caused by stubble burning and industrial plants in the outskirts of the city, but also the daily habits of millions of residents who choose private vehicles over public alternatives,” he said.He wanted people to understand that pollution was not caused by a single activity or group. Everyday choices, including excessive dependence on private vehicles, also contribute to the city’s air-quality problem.Explaining his approach, he said he developed a campaign that included awareness workshops, primary data collection through surveys, working with environmental journalists and collaborations with NGOs, residential associations and schools. “I believe I built momentum for collective action by bringing together different parts of the city,” he said in the video.According to his profile published by Action For Nature, Abhiveer launched the NCR Clean Air Campaign in late 2023. What started as an effort to raise awareness gradually developed into a community initiative operating across Delhi and Gurgaon.
Distributing masks and protective gear to vulnerable communities
Image courtesy: Instagram/@clear_blueskiess
One of the most important parts of Abhiveer’s campaign is its focus on people who face greater exposure to polluted air but have fewer resources to protect themselves. In his Action For Nature video, he explained that collecting data made him realise that children do not experience air pollution in the same way. Abhiveer partnered with the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group and other NGOs to organise more than 35 educational workshops across six slum communities, including Nizamuddin Basti and Bhawar Singh Camp.He also worked with his childhood friend Mohammad to conduct do-it-yourself mask-making workshops using recycled materials. Together, they distributed more than 700 protective masks to residents of vulnerable communities, delivery workers and traffic police personnel.The campaign also addressed another winter-related problem: burning street waste to keep warm. Abhiveer organised the distribution of 300 warmth kits to night guards and informal workers to help reduce their dependence on burning waste for warmth. He is also working on an online fundraiser to arrange sewing machines and fabric so that mask production can be expanded within the communities that need them.
He also took the fight against pollution to court
Abhiveer’s campaign is not limited to awareness drives and distributing protective equipment. He has also pursued legal action to demand accountability from public authorities. According to Action For Nature, he joined a group of students in approaching the Delhi High Court through a writ petition. The petition sought intervention over gaps in municipal enforcement and changes to the state’s sports calendar so that young athletes would not be required to compete outdoors during periods of severe pollution.In a November 2025 report, The Indian Express reported that 15-year-old Abhiveer was among 11 students who approached the Delhi High Court seeking changes to the outdoor sports and tournament schedule. They wanted competitions to be moved away from November to January, when Delhi generally experiences severe air pollution.Apart from the court petition, Abhiveer also filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. According to Action For Nature, he sought information about delays in mechanical sweeping machines and the utilisation of funds allocated for pollution control.
Why he believes young people must be part of the solution
Image courtesy: Instagram/@clear_blueskiess
Abhiveer has consistently emphasised the importance of involving children and teenagers in environmental campaigns, particularly those from communities that experience the effects of pollution most directly. He also shared his belief in the role young environmentalists can play in addressing the climate and pollution crisis. “Many often say, ‘Only fire can fight fire.’ For us, as the world gets hotter, it is the passion of young environmentalists that can keep this fight going in the right direction,” he said.A student at Vasant Valley School in Delhi, Abhiveer is interested in economics and hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in the United States. According to Action For Nature, he wants to use public policy and civic action to address environmental inequalities.