URVI Foundation at the Earthna Summit 2025

Celebrating Sustainability, Innovation, and Traditional Knowledge

The URVI Foundation Directors proudly participated in the second edition of the Earthna Summit, held in Doha, Qatar, under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation, and Traditional Knowledge.” The summit underscored Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, drawing inspiration from its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems.

As finalists of the prestigious Earthna Prize 2024, the URVI Foundation was invited to join this global gathering of changemakers, thought leaders, and innovators working at the intersection of tradition, technology, and environmental resilience.

About the Earthna Summit

The Earthna Summit serves as a dynamic platform for exploring how traditional knowledge systems and modern innovations can together inform the path to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.

The event featured:

  • An expert track for professionals and policymakers, hosted at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Bin Jelmood Museum, where global sustainability leaders exchanged ideas on policy, climate action, and local innovation.
  • The vibrant Earthna Village at Barahat Msheireb, a community-driven exhibition space featuring interactive activations, public talks, and inspiring discussions led by environmental experts, innovators, and educators.

 

URVI Foundation’s Participation

Representing India, the URVI Foundation Directors attended the summit as part of the Earthna Prize finalist delegation, showcasing the Stone Free Movement — a

pioneering initiative promoting sustainable, earth-based construction in Kerala.

Through participation in dialogues and exhibitions, URVI Foundation shared insights on:

  • Reviving ancestral building wisdom for modern climate challenges.
  • Reducing dependence on stone quarrying and high-carbon materials.
  • Promoting geo-sensitive, low-carbon housing models for climate- vulnerable regions.

 

Their presence highlighted Kerala’s model of community-led, region-specific sustainability, aligning perfectly with Earthna’s mission to bridge traditional knowledge and modern sustainability frameworks for hot and arid regions.