Newsletter (May-June 2025)
Our newsletter provides updates on our programs, and fellow Climate Reality Leaders who are making a difference. It carries a gamut of activities carried out in two months' time, showing how each one of us can act to solve the crisis together. We would love to hear from you, your story and acts of leadership in the journey of sustainability. Every action matters!
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Green Campus Programme Awards to HEIs
The Green Campus Programme (GCP) – HEI Award, announced on 23rd May 2025, recognized GD Goenka University, Gurugram and MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune with the Gold Category Award for their outstanding sustainability efforts. Based on a detailed evaluation aligned with the GCP Activity and Audit Book, both institutions showcased exemplary green practices and received certificates and trophies for their achievements.
A physical award ceremony was held at GD Goenka University on 2nd June 2025, where Mr. Bhavesh Swami from The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) presented the award. University representatives shared their positive experiences with the programme, while Mr. Swami commended their environmental leadership, encouraging continued action toward sustainable campuses.
Principals’ Conclave Ignites Green Commitment on World Environment Day
On the occasion of World Environment Day, The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) and Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha (SVSS) jointly organized a dynamic Principals’ Conclave on 5th June 2025 at Vivekanand College, Kolhapur. With 39 participants representing 20 campuses, the event focused on the theme “Climate Education and Green Campuses for a Safer Planet.” The day featured thought-provoking sessions by Mr. Ganesh Satav and Dr. Sudhir Kumbhar, covering the science of climate change, the importance of environmental education, and the introduction of the Green Campus Programme (GCP).
The conclave inspired participants to actively integrate sustainability into their educational institutions. Special dignitaries including Mr. Abhaykumar Salunkhe – Executive President, SVSS and Mr. Ram Salunkhe – President of Vidya Samiti, SVSS, emphasized the leadership role educators must play in shaping a climate-resilient future. With enthusiastic feedback and a collective commitment from all attending campuses to initiate the GCP journey, the conclave marked a powerful step toward embedding climate action into the core of institutional practices.
Empowering Educators: Climate Workshop at MM Public School, Delhi
On 31st May 2025, The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia conducted a dynamic teacher training workshop at MM Public School, Pitampura, Delhi, as part of the Green Campus Program. The session aimed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to become sustainability champions within their schools and communities.
The workshop saw an enthusiastic participation of 57 teachers, who engaged in insightful discussions and hands-on activities focused on climate change, water conservation, and waste management. Ms. Rekha Lalla led the session, highlighting the role of teachers as climate mentors and the importance of embedding sustainability in everyday classroom practices. Participants received specially curated teaching tools, including activity sheets and audit templates, to help integrate climate education into subjects like science, geography, and civics. Practical demonstrations on waste segregation and school greening audits added a valuable experiential layer to the session.
GCP SCHOOLS IN ACTION
Wetland Restoration Drive
at Hokersar, Kashmir
In April 2025, student volunteers from GBHSS Zainakote, in collaboration with The Climate Reality Project India, took part in a wetland restoration drive at the Hokersar Ramsar site in Kashmir. The initiative began with an engaging awareness session led by environmental science lecturer Ms. Nyla Ali, highlighting the ecological importance of wetlands.
Following the session, students carried out a cleanup along the wetland banks, removing plastic and solid waste while documenting pollutants. The drive not only strengthened their understanding of wetland conservation but also inspired collective responsibility towards protecting natural ecosystems.
The Great Himalayan Cleanup Drive, Darjeeling
On 31st May 2025, over 300 volunteers, including students, teachers, and local NGOs, came together for the Great Himalayan Cleanup Drive at Observatory Hill (Mahakal Mandir), Darjeeling. Led by Climate Reality Leader Ms. Kamlesh Rai and supported by The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia, the initiative aimed to combat plastic pollution in fragile mountain ecosystems.
Volunteers cleaned a 1-km stretch, conducted waste segregation and brand audits, and spread community awareness through cultural engagement. Recyclables were sent to Tieedi waste center, while organic waste was composted on-site, showcasing a powerful model of community-driven environmental action in the heart of the Himalayas.
CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENTS & ADVOCACY
Celebrating World Environment Day with Youth for Earth
On 7th June 2025, The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia, in collaboration with the Mobius Foundation, hosted a vibrant webinar titled “Celebrating the World Environment with Youth for Earth”. The event brought together over 186 participants from across India and South Asia, including students, educators, and Youth for Earth (Y4E) participants, to mark World Environment Day and deepen understanding on the theme of plastic pollution. The session featured powerful insights from experts like Dr. Ram Boojh, Ms. Anuja Bali, and Ms. Shreya Das, who addressed the global plastic crisis and the role of youth in driving sustainable change. Highlights included a keynote on the history of WED, a motivational showcase of a Y4E award-winning project, and a detailed orientation on the Y4E submission process by Dr. Bhagyashree Kesharwani. The webinar was facilitated by Ms. Riya Deb and concluded with an engaging Q&A and a brief introduction to the Youth for COP initiative by Dr. Amruta Deshmukh, further encouraging young climate leaders to participate in global climate advocacy.
CLIMATE REALITY LEADERS- HIGHLIGHTS
Sowing Seeds of Climate Resilience
Across Punjab
In the heart of Punjab, a different kind of seed was sown this Environment Day — one of awareness, action and hope. Nikita Singla, our newly trained Climate Reality Leader, carried the message of climate responsibility forward by leading a session on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies.
Part of a three-day Faculty Development Programme titled Green Resilience: Environmental Skills for Crisis Response, her session engaged 55 government school educators in exploring ways to bring climate action into their classrooms and communities. The programme concluded with a tree plantation drive and a collective promise to stay involved in environmental efforts.
Bridging Audits and Environment:
A Dialogue for Change
On June 25, 2025, Dr. Vivek Trivedi and Dr. Pooja Chopra were invited by the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Punjab, to contribute to a significant discussion on improving the impact of environmental audits. As National Coordinators for Resilience and Biodiversity, they brought their on-ground experience to a conclave themed Enhancing the Impact of Audit Reports in Strengthening Governance.
Their session focused on Pressing Environmental Concerns in Punjab and the Role of Audit, highlighting how environmental assessments can be better understood and used in shaping policy and driving reform. The dialogue created a space for exchange between audit professionals and governance stakeholders, emphasising the need to translate audit findings into actionable steps for stronger systems and more responsive governance.
