Hundreds of Mumbai residents joined a massive beach cleanup at Juhu on Wednesday morning, removing nearly 2,000 kilograms of plastic waste from the coastline. The drive, organised by Project Mumbai, marked the first curtain-raiser event for the upcoming Mumbai Climate Week, announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis declared that India will host the inaugural Mumbai Climate Week in February, aiming to position the city as a global hub for climate collaboration across the Global South. The three-day event will be organised by Project Mumbai in partnership with the Maharashtra Department of Environment and Climate Change, and supported by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The curtain-raiser event, held under Project Mumbai’s flagship initiative ‘Jallosh: Clean Coasts, Restore The Shore’, brought together around 400 volunteers, including students, civic officials, and corporate participants. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with UNICEF India, YuWaah’s Green Rising, the state climate action cell, Majhi Vasundhara, and several colleges through the National Service Scheme (NSS).

In less than two hours, the volunteers collected 1,946 kilograms of plastic waste, which will now be recycled into public amenities. The exercise also aimed to raise awareness about sustainable lifestyles and behavioural change, supporting India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the Majhi Vasundhara goals for green living.

At Juhu Koliwada, volunteers took part in activities such as waste segregation, shoreline restoration, and awareness sessions on eco-conscious habits. The effort sought to inspire local community ownership while contributing to broader climate resilience.

Kevin Frey, CEO of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, said, “When young people act locally, they create ripples of change that impact the world. What’s happening here in Mumbai is part of a global movement to co-create a greener future for all.”

Shishir Joshi, CEO and Founder of Project Mumbai, added, “Such clean-ups reflect how small, consistent community actions can create lasting change. Mumbai can soon become the Kindness Capital of India if citizens continue to take ownership of their city.”

Sudhaka Bobade, Mission Director of Majhi Vasundhara, highlighted that the initiative demonstrated collective action between the government, private sector, and civil society to promote sustainable living practices.

Sanjay Singh, Chief of UNICEF Maharashtra, said, “The enthusiasm of young volunteers shows that when citizens unite, they can turn the tide on climate change. We reaffirm our support for making Mumbai Climate Week a success.”