Back Sheetal Antil National Coordinator Nature Based Solutions Sheetal Antil is a seasoned professional with a strong background in nature-based solutions, climate change education and awareness, and sustainability. She currently works as a Manager for Nature-Based Solutions at South Pole, where she focuses on sourcing projects that promote nature conservation and restoration in the South Asia and Middle East regions. Her goal is to channel climate finance to these projects and provide access to carbon markets. Before her current role, she worked as a Program Manager at The Climate Project Foundation, where she managed climate change education and awareness programs. As a part of Climate Reality (trained Climate Reality Leader 2015), she has organized various campaigns and education programs related to climate action and has extensively worked with teachers, youth, and school community members. She has also gained significant experience in the field of conservation and sustainability through her work with organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Capgemini Invent. Additionally, she is a CII certified expert in climate change and sustainability, and part of ESD expert net. Sheetal holds a Master's degree in Biodiversity and Conservation and a Management degree in International Marketing from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. As a Green Jobs National Coordinator, she is committed to sharing her experiences and empowering young minds to take climate action by making green choices. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link

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Newsletter (Jan-Feb) 2023 Our newsletter will provide updates from our programs, our fellow Climate Reality Leaders who are making difference and how each one of us can act to solve the crisis. And, we would love to know your story and act of leadership, because every action does matter. Workshop on Teachers’ Training Program With an objective to impart knowledge to the teaching community about the Green Campus Program (GCP) and educate them on the 5 domains of GCP, we conducted a Teachers’ Training Program on from 5th to 12th January, 2023. This is our first time getting a school from Patna, Bihar. The workshop for the DPS Patna teachers was led by Ms Seema Bali - Vice Principal of St. Mary’s Dwarka, Delhi & our consultants. 170 teachers participated for six days. It was an interactive workshop. The workshop’s first session was on Climate Change and with an introduction to the Green Campus Program. The first day was followed by five more days on the topics: Air, Water, biodiversity, Waste & Energy, one each day. “Empower Her” with Vidya School On 27 January 2023, Empower Her was organized in the Vidya School, Gurugram, Haryana. On the brighter side, there are have been several important changes and achievements in the system of formal education of girls, in the last decade and a half. However evidently, women in India are conspicuously missing from the workforce. There are several factors behind this sharp decline: family-enforced social norms that place women predominantly in caregiving roles, deeply ingrained stereotypes around occupations, traditionally low levels of self-confidence, and information and network asymmetries. With so many job sectors that are traditionally male-dominated, women seemingly have either less or no access compared with the amount of information and opportunities. Empower Her aimed to catalyse upskilling and employability of women and in creating a qualitative women workforce. It was conducted by Global Shapers, Gurugram with respect to its return to in-person events post the pandemic. All the young girls interacted with women experts who joined the session from diverse backgrounds and unconventional fields to spark curiosity and build a perspective that girls can pick up career paths that are less taken. With this event, girls can articulate what they aspire to become, understand how to acquire skills required to venture into those fields, and how to deal with challenges and work towards it. Rekha Lalla, Program Manager – Green Campus Program shared her climate story and personal journey with the girl. Girls from Vidya school were divided into groups. Ms. Lalla took 4 Sessions with the girls and explained them her personal story and her career journey. Each session involved the participation from 5-6 women experts from diverse domains and industries who shared their journey, challenges & how they built their careers by sharing their stories. Students were very enthusiastic and excited. They asked many queries and questions related to their career choices. The event was sponsored by Canada Consulate general. Open Letter to Brazil Online letters were written by students of 6 schools from Delhi-NCR & Chennai to Brazil. The objective of this exercise was to carry out a collection in the youth pavilion of handwritten letters by young people about what they would like Brazilian children to know, learn or find out about climate change, like "what can you do to learn and engage in the climate crises, even though you don't have climate education at school?" 60 letters were written by students from 6 schools of India to Brazil, of which some were handwritten, and rest digital. Some of the schools that participated enthusiastically in a short time are Adarsh Public School Bali Nagar-Delhi, Bluebells School International EOK-Delhi, KIIT International School, Gurgaon, Haryana, Vels Vidhayashram, Thalambur, Chennai, RMK Sr Secondary School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and St. Mary’s School, Delhi. India ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicles) Partnership Private Sector Roundtable: 2023 On 22nd February, an India ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicles) Partnership Private Sector Roundtable 2023 edition was conducted that brought the stakeholders like EV manufacturers, charger manufacturers, and other user segments from local as well as international markets together to the table to identify opportunities for stronger private sector collaboration supporting Industry ambition and India Zero-Emission-Vehicle priorities. The Climate Project Foundation was invited to the roundtable discussion as part of the newly launched ‘Partnership to Support an Accelerated Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles in India.’ The Partnership consists of two interconnecting initiatives: one is The ZEV Country Pilot with India: To develop a framework that will help provide focused and coordinated technical and financial support to help India’s transition and the other one is the ZEV Emerging Markets Initiative (ZEV-EM-I) India Dialogue: To facilitate partnerships between India and industry to accelerate private investment and public policies, enabling both to achieve their ambitious ZEV deployment goals. More such concrete discussions are planned (at the outset of COP 27 discussions) to shape collective investment agreements in the lead-up to the Clean Energy Ministerial, G20 Summit, and COP28. TCPF also shared its work done with govt. and other players to bring mass awareness and other policy suggestions that help accelerate faster adoption and help realize India’s dream of 30% of vehicle sales to be EVs in the entire vehicle sales segment. EV Update Media Maharashtra Summit 2023 On 22nd February, EV Update Media in partnership with The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) conducted the summit. The event was attended by CRL Shivam Singh. With a renewed focus on EVs and their ecosystem development, EV Update Media our partners disseminated organized the “EV Update Maharashtra Summit 2023” in Pune, Maharashtra. Senior officials from the Pune Municipality, who graced the event, shared how they are working on the demand side management and trying to create opportunities for EV fleet deployment. The manufacturers and solution providers also showcased how they are working on bringing EVs closer to the masses. TCPF also shared the buyer’s perspective on the guidance and information unavailability; and how a neutral platform is missing where one can get unbiased information with respect to the product he/she wants to purchase. Our partner, EV Update Media bridging the information gap that is prevailing across the value chain, and this was appreciated by everyone. MoU with Delhi EV Cell The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) has joined hands with the Delhi EV Cell (DEC), a subsidiary of the Transport Department, Govt. of Delhi to promote EVs and associated infrastructure built up that includes charging infrastructure, entrepreneurship opportunities in the EV sector, and battery technology improvement among other. The MoU intends to create a win-win situation for both parties with better facilitation in each other’s interventions. Some of the expectations vested are: i) TCPF will provide support to maximize the reach out for DEC’s scheme for uptaking charging infrastructure whereby they are providing a subsidy of 33% and help in getting more schools to become EV-ready. ii) TCPF will also help DEC build up a knowledge management repository (through posters, short information capsules, social media, etc.) to generate awareness about EVs and eradicate myths associated with them. We will also be helping the Cell in setting the technical and scientific temperament among the school and college students by engaging them in various measures including an annual competition, with a focus on how to improvise battery range, performance, and other peripherals like solar modules-based charging, etc. This collaboration looks up at a brighter future for EVs in India and how it can contribute towards a sustainable tomorrow that thrives majorly on clean energy. HACK KMRU 2.0: Session on “Climate Change - Problems and Solutions, What can Youth Do?” On 17th February 2023, The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) was invited to K R Mangalam University, Gurgaon (KRMU) to deliver a keynote address as part of ‘HACK – KMRU 2.0’, the flagship hackathon event of the university. Bhavesh Swami, Lead – Clean Energy Policy and Engagements from TCPF delivered the keynote and shared newer areas of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (ML and AI) that are taking sustainability at its core. He further added with the insights on the energy intensity of data mining and cloud computing and how newer startups are helping ride this wave in energy-efficient ways. Students too poised interesting questions like how bigger tech companies have become carbon responsible and what are the plans by other sectors, where they can find avenues to work. Students from more than 50 universities participated in the event with a greater emphasis on learning from each other and building collaborative projects. Events in Surajkund Mela 2023 On 11th February 2023, a session was delivered by Ms. Sameera Satija, which started with a general overview of Climate Change and its reasons, landfills and its impact on soil, air and water, water scarcity, etc. She shared the simple, easy, doable, and sustainable actions in daily life. Sameera also briefed them about the Crockery Bank concept which she had founded in 2018. A live demo of preparing organic and natural household cleansers with kitchen waste called Bio Enzymes was also organized. Students showed great interest in learning more about landfills as they can relate to it because of a major landfill existing in the proximity of their University. They also had a lot of questions about Bio Enzyme and its uses. On 12th Feb 2023, in association with NEHHDC, Samarth Khanna from Nature’s Orbit organized ‘Climate Awareness Sessions’ supported by the TCPF session on the previous day. The Nature’s Orbit organized a meet-up consisting of a series of green discussions on 12th February 2023 in Van Bhoj ( mud house ), a sustainable living eco-space, as a part of Surajkund International Craft Mela. The meet-up consisted of the Chief Guest; Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh, Managing Director of NEHHDC and Rekha Lalla and Bhavesh from TCPF were present there along with other experts from the green economy. The event was hosted by Debabrata Rajkumar, Founder of Natures’ Orbit. The meet-up resulted in a promising future of prospective collaboration and partnerships for different interventions and taking the Green Campus Program forward. Butterfly Garden in Sangli, Maharashtra Butterflies help in maintaining the ecosystem in a more balanced way by acting as pollinators, prey, biological pest control, inducing genetic variation in plants, and enhancing environmental beauty. They also help in reducing the carbon dioxide levels in the air. From January to February ’23, with the spirit of a new beginning in the new year, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalaya Kadegaon, Tal – Kadegaon, District Sangli, Maharashtra took an initiative to create a Butterfly Garden as a part of activities for the Green Campus Program (GCP). The objectives of this program are: to generate awareness amongst the students on the importance of butterflies in our ecosystem; to acquaint them with the host and nectar plant of butterflies; to create an open lab for students where they can study the life cycle of the butterfly; and to replicate this activity in students’ homes or communities. The school has planted various 50 host and nectar plants to attract the butterflies. Some of the host Plants are Lemon, Stone Apple, Miracle leaf plant, Pipe Vine, Crown Flower, Banyan tree, Cluster Fig, etc and Nectar Plants are Lantana, Blue Jamaica Spike, Hibiscus, Marigold, Common milkweed plant, Ixora, Plumbago, Duranta etc. The students recorded 17 butterflies in the butterfly garden while studying the life cycle of various butterflies. 100 students from 8th standard and 9th standard participated in this activity. This activity is initiated and implemented with the help of students by Dr. Sudhir Kumbhar. Principal of the school Chavhan V.D, Coordinator teachers of Green Campus Pemdurkar sir, Shrikant Pawar, Karade I.M. is supporting and assisting Dr Sudhir Kumbhar for the smooth implementation of the program. Herbal Garden in Pune The Ahilyadevi Highschool for Girls, Shanivar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, which is one of the Green Campus Program (GCP) schools has come forward with an initiative to create a Herbal Garden. Partnered with the Deccan Education Society Pune. The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) catalysed this intervention. The objectives of this herbal garden are to plant a various medicinal plant in campus; participate students in the development of the herbal garden and implement hands-on activity through students; to acquaint students on various varieties of medicinal plants; make students aware of the uses of medicinal plants and about our traditional science of treating diseases with the uses of medicinal plants and their various parts. 40 Students from the 8th standard participated in this activity and planted saplings of 50 varieties of medicinal plants on the campus. Some of the plants are Cuscus grass, Ashwagandha, Malabar nut, Turmeric, Lemon grass, Aloe vera, Ajwain, Bramhi, Heart-leaved moonseed, etc. They are now taking care of those saplings. Acts of Leadership Prafulla Dhal Prafulla Dhal attended the session, “CSR - A strategic tool towards sustainability movement in India” as a speaker. Presentation in International conference in XIMB University, Bhubaneswar. He also participated in Vibrant Odisha Conclave 2023 on “Odisha - The Land of opportunities” organized by Indus-Valley Times-Centre for Socio-Economic Studies. Rituraj Phukan Deliberation on Y20 India for “Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Sustainability a way of Life.” The February issue of Sanctuary Asia has a #COP15 feature including Mr. Rituraj’s perspective on the #UNBiodiverity conference. Link to the magazine- https://www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/magazine Shashikant Dalvi On 20 Jan 23, Col Shashikant Dalvi (Retd.), Parjanya Rainwater Harvesting Consultancy and Mr. Anirudh Todkar, MD, MAPS Industries Ltd Pune, successfully completed, Jal Aatmanirbhar Abhiyan in 100 villages of Beed District, making these water-starved villages, Water sufficient. Under this project, rooftop rainwater from around 5000 buildings, including 70 schools, 56 religious buildings, 23 govt buildings and village houses, is channelized to raise depleting groundwater table using Rainwater Harvesting System, and increasing the availability of water to 100 villages, making them water sufficient and Tanker Water free. From around 39 lakh sq. ft of Rooftop area, annually more than 26 crore liters of rainwater will be channelized to raise the groundwater table using Rainwater Harvesting Systems. Under this project, 2997 borewells and 156 open wells were recharged. This project is one of the largest in Maharashtra State and India. The project was executed in a record of 7 months. With the implementation of this project, more than 4 lakh villagers from these 100 villages will be free from water shortage. 2.25 lakh Fruit trees were planted in these villages. This will help restore the biodiversity of the area. Pournima Agarkar Pournima Agarkar Organized the YouCAN Environment Fest in Pune International Centre being a part of EECC (Energy Environment and Climate Change). Gaurav Sharma Gaurav Sharma presented his 3rd TEDx talk on climate change has been featured in the official TED website. This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDx Anand Nagar, an independent event. Gaurav, a social entrepreneur recognized as “Trashman of Rajasthan” recently gave a TEDx Talk on the subject of Climate Change. In his talk, Sharma delved into the urgent need for action to address this pressing global issue and emphasized the importance of individual actions in creating a sustainable future. Gaurav began his talk by highlighting the devastating effects of climate change that are already being felt around the world, from rising sea levels to more frequent and intense natural disasters. He then went on to explain the science behind climate change, emphasizing that it is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. One of his key points was the urgent need for action to address the problem of climate change. He stressed that, while governments and corporations have an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is also essential that individuals take responsibility for their own actions. He encouraged his audience to make small changes in their daily lives, such as reducing their carbon footprint through using sustainable straw, toothbrush and by composting their food waste. He also spoke about the importance of community action and working together to create a more sustainable future. He emphasized that we need to change the narrative about how we look at Climate Change. Avinash Narayanswamy Avinash Narayanswamy conducted a 2-day activity converting close to a tonne of food waste from a hotel (including biodegradable areca and bagasse plates) into bio compost. Most of Bangalore's 3000 tonnes/day of organic waste (around 70% is food) reaches landfills causing rampant environmental pollution apart from methane (dangerous global warming gas) emissions. “A third of the food produced worldwide is wasted by humans, which in my opinion is wrong. When food is wasted, all the effort and energy from readying the soil, growing the crop, processing, transporting, and eventually cooking it is also wasted. The bio-compost so obtained is in a form Mother Nature can readily accept” he shared. A tonne of organic waste was prevented from reaching the landfill and was instead converted into a natural soil fertilizer and this is how we can optimize utility of the resources and bring responsible consumption into practice. Checkout our previous Newsletters November - December Newsletter 2022 September - October Newsletter 2022

Back Sathya Natarajan National Coordinator Urban Spaces A Passionate national Volunteer and an Environment foot soldier with more than two decades of Leadership experience & customer service attitude. Having led a corporate life of 15 yrs. in night shift, helped him do social service in the day. Worked & partnered over sixty NGOs & social groups for various causes, he brings in variety of people management, organization, strategic skills towards meeting & satisfying social objectives through the eyes of company's vision, community & employee volunteering. A core committee member of Swachh Pune Swachh Bharat that promotes clean, hygiene & safe environment, Area Sabha Association of Pune that aims to preserve & protect green cover for Pune. He has spearheaded individual campaigns in promoting advocacy around Maharashtra Trees Preservation & Protection Act of 1975 with more than 100 talk shows, plantation drives. Championing Single page tree Act for common citizen, had also prepared the First Urban Tree manifesto during elections. At an individual level, he promotes the dignity of labour through red dot campaigns for safe disposal of menstrual waste which reach households of Pune as well Andhra Pradesh Model villages through UNICEF sponsored Programs. Apart from Environment programs, he is also a “Human Library” book, an Copenhagen initiative to open conversation & break prejudice. His latest initiative is to reach more schools on Tree Act & Safe, and Hygienic Environment. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link

Back Tasnia Ahmed National Coordinator Tasnia Ahmed is a youth development expert on public health and climate action working for 7 years professionally and over a decade of volunteerism. She is working as a Program Manager at SERAC. She is heavily involved with the UNFPA Youth Task-force Committee on Population, SRHR, and Climate Action; Country Coordinator at Climate Reality Project Bangladesh; NDC Reviewer; serves as CSO Asia Representative of the GFF-CSCG steering committee, Country Coordinator of Global South Coalition of Dignified Menstruation, Representative of the International Youth Alliance of Family Planning-Bangladesh, WORTH fellow on Climate Action and Women Empowerment; Fellow of Climate Reality Leadership Program; National Coordinator of the Youth Coalition of Climate Justice (YCCJ) and Global Vice-versa Champion. She joined the COP26, COP27, and COP28 as a youth negotiator to represent the UNFPA Youth Advisory Committee on Climate Action and SRHR. Tasnia's passion for youth leadership, dedication, and experience in the field of climate action make her a negotiator in the global fight against the climate crisis. Her contributions to the climate field have been valued by the Bangladesh government, which allowed her to participate as the official youth delegate to contribute to the NDC process in COP27, followed by presenting the findings (UNFPA-NDC-Global Report_2023.pdf) in COP28. Through NDC findings, I facilitated country access to women's capacity-building support and knowledge resources in response to requests for support on gender mainstreaming in climate action; and surfaced successes, effective practices, and lessons from around the world and widely disseminated these through country peer exchanges and knowledge products, as well as shared empowering tales of women making a difference. Recently, she has started to work as a technical lead to develop the Bangladesh factsheet on Climate Action and Gender, where the factsheet will be catapulted in the upcoming COP29, Bake- Azerbaijan. Share Profile Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link

Careers 2D Animator & Sketching Artist Job Opening: 2D Animator Location: New Delhi, India | Type: Full-Time | In-office The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia is seeking a creative 2D Animator to develop engaging edutainment content on climate change. Key Responsibilities: Design 2D animations, explainer videos, and short films on climate-related topics. Collaborate with educators and designers to conceptualize and storyboard impactful visuals. Ensure high-quality, polished content aligned with organizational goals. Stay updated on animation trends and innovate to enhance outreach initiatives. Requirements: Proficiency in tools like Adobe Animate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Moho, Blender or Similar . Strong storytelling and character animation skills. Creativity and passion for simplifying complex topics for diverse audiences. Basic knowledge of climate change or willingness to learn. Prior experience is preferred, but freshers are also encouraged to apply as interns. Why Join Us? Be part of a mission-driven team creating a sustainable future while showcasing your creative talents! Apply Now: Send your resume, portfolio, and a brief cover letter to connect@climatereality.org.in Job Opening: Sketching Artist Location: New Delhi, India | Type: Full-Time | In-office The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia is seeking a skilled Sketching Artist to create visually impactful content on climate change and sustainability. Key Responsibilities: Develop hand-drawn sketches, illustrations, and storyboards for edutainment and educational materials. Collaborate with content creators and designers to visualize complex climate-related topics. Create characters, infographics, and scenes that convey engaging narratives. Ensure timely delivery of high-quality work and adapt to feedback. Requirements: Proficiency in traditional and digital sketching tools (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity or Procreate) . Strong creativity, storytelling, and attention to detail. Passion for sustainability and willingness to learn about climate change. Prior experience in sketching, illustration, or related fields. Why Join Us? Be part of a mission-driven organization using art and creativity to inspire climate solutions and awareness. Apply Now: Send your resume, portfolio, and a brief cover letter to connect@climatereality.org.in

About Youth for COP Youth for COP is a youth leadership and capacity-building initiative by The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia, developed in collaboration with partners committed to nurturing the next generation of climate leaders. The programme recognises that empowering young people to engage meaningfully in climate policymaking and negotiations is imperative in today’s world. Youth are key stewards of the planet, with an essential role in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future. The programme provides participants with a deeper understanding of the Conference of Parties (COP) processes and deliberations. Young people are trained to articulate their ideas, concerns, and solutions effectively, ensuring their voices are heard within climate policy spaces. Youth for COP also equips participants to navigate the complexities of the COP platform, preparing them to engage confidently in future climate discussions. Through capacity-building workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and networking opportunities, Youth for COP cultivates leadership and advocacy skills. The initiative supports young people to ignite change by strengthening climate literacy, building confidence, and fostering connections across the climate action ecosystem. Visit the Website Fill the Pre-Registration form Y4C : Numbers 48+ Participant Countries 1000 Social Media Posts 2600+ Participants 40+ Expert Speakers 80 Blogs Written Y4C : The Second Edition Youth for COP 2025 marked the second edition of the programme and its evolution into a truly global youth leadership initiative. Designed to strengthen climate literacy, systems understanding, and communication skills among young people from the Global South, the programme was delivered in the lead-up to COP30. Building on its earlier regional foundation, Youth for COP 2025 expanded its reach to bring together youth living on the frontlines of the climate crisis, with a strong emphasis on climate justice, regional equity, and amplifying voices that remain underrepresented in global climate negotiations. Delivered over a three-month period, Youth for COP 2025 engaged more than 1,500 participants from over 48 countries through a structured series of expert-led thematic sessions and practical workshops. The programme combined technical learning on key climate policy areas with interactive discussions, reflective writing, and peer exchange. A defining feature of this edition was its focus on lived experiences, with participants sharing first-hand accounts of climate impacts across regions, fostering cross-regional learning and solidarity. Overall, the programme contributed to building a more informed, confident, and connected cohort of young climate leaders prepared to engage meaningfully in climate conversations leading up to COP30 and beyond. Download Report Y4C : The First Edition The first edition of Youth 4 COP was a remarkable success, engaging over 1,100 youth across 8 South Asian countries through expert-led sessions, workshops, and dynamic engagement platforms. With guidance from experienced speakers, participants gained negotiation skills and climate knowledge, enabling them to contribute to COP 29—both in person and via social media reporting, amplifying youth voices in global climate discussions. Building on the success of the first edition, The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia proudly launches the second edition of Youth 4 COP, reaffirming its commitment to empowering young climate leaders. This initiative equips participants with a deep understanding of COP processes, helping them effectively articulate ideas, concerns, and solutions, while navigating the complexities of climate negotiations. Through capacity-building workshops, expert-led sessions, and networking opportunities, Youth 4 COP continues to foster leadership and advocacy, preparing youth to take an active role in global climate dialogues. In collaboration with like-minded partners, the program expands its reach and engagement strategies, ensuring youth voices remain at the forefront of climate policy-making. With structured training and a growing network, Youth 4 COP empowers young changemakers to drive meaningful climate action, shaping a more sustainable future. Download Report Gallery

Newsletter (January-February 2024) 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! Session on Climate Change & Green Campus Program at Fergusson College An interactive workshop was conducted for the students and faculty members of the Department of Environmental Science, Fergusson College, Pune by Dr. Amruta Deshmukh. The Fergusson College, Pune has joined hands with The Climate Project Foundation under the Green Campus Program. Students are working on the various activities under the Green Campus Program. The presentation and student interaction aimed at introducing them to the Green Campus Program, guiding them regarding the GCP activities, and solving their doubts regarding the activities they are currently conducting. Around 85 students attended the session. Climate Policy for Jammu & Kashmir A meeting was conducted with the advocates of Kashmir to discuss the need for a Climate Policy exclusively for Kashmir as the state is changing with no snowfall during the winter to less snowfall. Ms. Rekha Lalla gave a presentation on climate change and explained all the lawyers working on ground levels in Kashmir, about how global climate change scenario also impacts the scenario in Kashmir. Around 55 advocates, on ground personnels working in the field of sustainability joined the meeting and had a long discussion on planning a Climate Policy for all residents of Kashmir & educational Institutes. GCP Skill Share Teacher Exchange Program Green Campus Program - Skill Share Teacher Exchange Program is an interstate exchange program can offer all schools an opportunity to experience different cultures, learn new languages and gain valuable life skills. The first GCP Skill Share TEP meeting was held on 27th January 2024, which was attended by Tagore International School, EOK Delhi & Mothers Public School, Odisha. A Teacher exchange program is a structured educational program that temporarily allows Teachers from one educational institution to learn from another institution about their best practices in the domain of Climate Change, GCP and Science-Social Sciences. The programme discussed how to help people adapt their lives and livelihoods to our changing climate, protect themselves from the increasing risks of disasters caused by climate change, and become more aware of, and resilient to, current and future climate shocks. They will understand how the GCP has broadened their view and learn about the climate resilience of that state in India. Environment & Sustainability Audit Workshop with Colleges A “Environment & Sustainability Audit Workshop” was conducted for the colleges from 18th – 20th January 2024. It includes systematic identification, recording and analysis of components related to sustainable development of an educational institution to preserve for future generations. Ms. Rekha Lalla conducted an Online Workshops for three consecutive days 18th,19th & 20th Jan 2024 from 3 to 5pm to involve the students and lecturers at colleges of Maharashtra in audit process. 183 students and faculty joined the audit training. The process has three important stages such as pre audit stage, audit stage and post audit stage. The steps for audit of educational institutions are as follows: - Study of present regulations and structure. Examine the previous infrastructure and do a comparative bon energy, waste, water & biodiversity analysis. Submit your report and then take actions. Noting of provisions applicable. Evaluation of internal control system. Teachers’ Training Program for Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, Pune An online Teachers’ Training Program was conducted for the faculty members and students at Ajeenkya D Y Patil University (ADYPU) as a part of the Green Campus Program. Ms. Rekha Lalla, Lead - Green Campus Program, The Climate Project Foundation discussed the science, impact, and solutions to the climate change crisis. Dr. Amruta Deshmukh introduced the need for climate action and the Green Campus Program for Higher Education Institutions and how it aligns with UGC & NAAC norms. She emphasized how the participation of HEIs, and the young generation can catalyse the target of Net Zero. Youth Mobilisation for Climate Action at GD Goenka University The GD Goenka University partnered with The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) to host a one-day event on, “Climate Change and the Role of Youth in Addressing it”, on National Youth Day. The session was attended by the students as well as faculty from various departments. Mr. Bhavesh from TCPF discussed climate change crisis, global warming, and reasons for calamities like flooding and desertification. This sparked curiosity among students. He then presented sustainable solutions such as solar-powered battery-based bicycles, efficient cookstoves, and concepts like slow and eco-tourism to raise awareness within communities. Dr. Rekha Singh from ECPFO spoke about Mission LiFE and a sustainable future, while Dr. Nihal Siddiqui conducted a campus tour, showcasing the Fire Drill Ground established under the Centre of Excellence- Occupational Health & Safety. The orientation concluded with the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, Kim Menezes, who wants to make GD Goenka University a climate-active and leading Green Campus. Teachers’ Training Program in Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune An online Teachers’ Training Program (TTP) was conducted for the faculty members and students at Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), Pune as a part of The Green Campus Program. Ms. Rekha Lalla from The Climate Project Foundation discussed the science, impacts, and solutions of the climate crisis, emphasizing zoonotic diseases, extreme weather, and viable solutions, and shared how the Green Campus Program (GCP) can address the issues. Dr. Amruta Deshmukh threw light on how HEIs play a critical role in this, how the GCP aligns with UGC and NAAC norms, and emphasized youth engagement. GCP Committee Meeting (Online) with HEIs Online Green Campus Program (GCP) committee meeting was held with core committee members of the following colleges: GMN College, Ambala Cantt., Haryana Maharashtra College of Arts, Science & Commerce (MCASC), Maharashtra Maharaja Agrasen University (MAU-Baddi), Himachal Pradesh Ajeenkya University, Maharashtra SD College, Ambala Cantt., Haryana Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College, Chandigarh NMITD, Mumbai USTM, Meghalaya Dr. Sakshi Grover underlined the need of “Green Campus Program” for Higher Education Institutions and how it would benefit the college community and the students. She also advocated the alignment of the Green Campus Program with UGC, NAAC and Mission LiFE norms. Mr. Bhavesh Swami explained about the future avenues for the student community regarding the green skills & training, green jobs, and startups. Online session on “Smart City & Greening of Campuses” with NITTTR, Chandigarh National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh organised an Online one-week Faculty Development Program on “Sustainable Cities & Communities.” Speakers & panellists from various institutions & organisations were invited to discuss Smart & Sustainable cities with students & faculty members. Mr. Bhavesh Swami from The Climate Project Foundation gave the presentation on “Importance of Green Campuses for Smart & Sustainable city model.” More than 15 faculty members & 70+ students attended the session of knowledge. MoU Signing with Ajeenkya DY Patil University The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) successfully signed MoU with Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU), Pune, Maharashtra under the Green Campus Program. During the MoU Signing ceremony, Mr. Aditya Pundir, Director, TCPF discussed beneficial future seminars/ programs we are planning under student development and engagement and how GCP will be helping the institute to reach of our common goal of a sustainable future. All the members of ADYPU promised their commitment to GCP with the active participation of students from their NSS wing. Panel Discussion on Sustainable Fashion and Climate Justice at NIFT, Bhubaneswar On 1st February 2024, National Institute of Fashion Technology – Bhubaneswar, Odisha conducted a panel discussion on Climate Justice and Sustainable Fashion. The panel discussion began with how fashion, especially fast fashion industry impacts global GHG emissions and hence, it is imperative to look at the triple bottom line (People, Planet & Profit) in a much more balanced way. Additionally, the light was thrown on how climate justice can be embedded in. The session was designed by Professor Dr. Binay Bhushan Jena for the students and faculty members of the institute. Dr. Jena is known for establishing Farm to Fashion concept at NIFT-Bhubaneswar. Mr. Prafulla Dhal, National Coordinator – Climate Disaster and Livelihood, The Climate Project Foundation; and Ms. Smruti S Samantray, Manager – Communications and Collaborations, The Climate Project Foundation were invited as the panellists, among others. Mr. Dhal spoke about the need for climate change mitigation in Odisha and how climate justice can be aligned with it. Ms. Samantray spoke about how design students can contribute towards the journey of sustainability and bring in an impactful transformation in the purchasing behaviour of the society while shedding light on green jobs. Celebrating National Science Day at Mount Abu School, Delhi In India, 28th February marks as National Science Day, celebrating Sir C.V. Raman's groundbreaking discovery of the Raman Effect, which revolutionized our understanding of light-matter interaction. To commemorate this, The Climate Project Foundation organized an event in association with the Mount Abu School, Rohini, Delhi. Ms. Rekha Lalla emphasized the importance of environmental conservation to students, discussing environmental degradation and actionable steps they can take to preserve it. The students engaged proactively in the dialogue, sharing their perspectives on the current state of climate change. Teachers Training Program in Odisha This February, The Mother’s Public School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha organized a Teachers’ Training Program in their campus, in association with The Climate Project Foundation, as a part of Green Campus Program initiative. It was an extensive workshop that went on for two days, and exclusively for the teachers. Teachers from 5 branches of the Mother’s Public School-Odisha were present for 2 days to learn and exchange their views, participate in group presentations, and integrate activities in their curriculum. The Mother’s Public School has Climate Change as their topic for all their activities, around the year. Audit Workshop for Sethu Institute of Technology, Madurai The Climate Project Foundation recently conducted an audit workshop at the Sethu Institute of Technology, Madurai, to impart knowledge about green auditing. This process assesses environmental practices both on and off campus, impacting the atmosphere directly or indirectly. Green auditing systematically identifies, quantifies, records, reports, and analyses components of the college environment. The objective was to involve the students in environmental auditing, helping them understand their institution's carbon footprint and resource consumption. It also educates them on aspects like plant diversity, pollution reduction, and soil preservation. Green auditing contributes to biodiversity protection, landscape management, water conservation, and natural topography maintenance. The workshop engaged 40 students and their professors, beginning with an overview of global energy, waste, and climate change scenarios, followed by discussions on India's current situation. MoU Signed with HEIs in Mumbai We recently signed an MoU with the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Mumbai: A.G.S College of Education; and Vikas College of Arts, Science & Commerce to collaborate on implementing SDGs "Green Campus Program" & "Faculty Development Program". TCPF actively supports UN's SDGs, aligning with India's national implementation efforts. Our focus includes sustainable development, climate solutions, and making Indian campuses carbon neutral. This partnership aims to spread awareness of climate change and environmental sustainability through the "Faculty Development Program." Teachers’ Training Program at Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies A Teachers’ Training Program was conducted under the Green Campus Program (GCP) for Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS), Pune to discuss Sustainability and ESG, and to guide about GCP, processes involved in the same, and the roadmap. SCMS Pune is registered with us under the GCP. Mr. Bhavesh Swami discussed Sustainability and ESG (Environmental Social Governance). After a quick overview of TCPF, he delivered a short but impactful presentation about sustainability, current ESG trends in business, and the need for climate education among students. The talk was designed for the management students. Dr. Amruta Deshmukh gave an overview of the Green Campus Program for HEIs and introduced the need for climate action. She explained the objectives and explained the alignment with NAAC and UGC circulars. She also explained the GCP roadmap and work done by other HEIs under GCP in detail. Webinar on World Wetlands Day A webinar on the eve of World Wetlands Day was organized by The Climate Project Foundation. The theme of the webinar was, “Wetlands & Human Wellbeing.” The webinar was attended by 500+ participants, including the faculty & students from various colleges. Ms. Sumaiya Mamun, an urban planner, addressed wetland issues and conservation measures, highlighting threats to mangroves, swamps, and marshes from anthropogenic activities. She discussed landscape topography in India and Bangladesh and the threat of microplastics to species. She also outlined government sector initiatives for conservation. Mr. Raj Mohan, of Sustainable Green Initiative, emphasized tree importance and showcased plantation drives across India, transforming barren landscapes into green spaces with 60 million trees planted for climate action. His focus on sapling distribution engaged local residents in restoration efforts. Acts of Leadership by Climate Reality Leaders Rituraj Phukan Mr. Rituraj Phukan, National Coordinator, Biodiversity - The Climate Project Foundation has penned down an article, “Impact of COP28 on India: Global stocktake and the challenge of balancing economic growth with climate responsibilities,” which was published in The CSR Universe. Click here to read it: He has also written an editorial on “The COP28 Conundrum” published in The Financial Express. Click here to read it. Anand Pendharkar SPROUTS led by Mr. Anand Pendharkar, restarted its Monthly Lecture Series into its 12th year, with an expert, Dr. Aprit Bansal on Photographing Birds around the World, on Fri Jan 19, 2024. Anand Pendharkar also conducted a Bird Walk on Jan 29, 2024, Birds of Shikha Eco -Learning Village, Odisha with Happy Hands School for the Deaf, School students & teachers. Our Leaders at The Climate Conference 2024 Ms. Elsie Gabriel, Ms. Nita Ganguly, and Mr. Anand Pendharkar were invited at The Climate Conference, 2024 organised by MoEFCC in partnership with Avana Climate & sustainability Fund on 12th January at Taj Santacruz. They interacted & deliberated on Financing sustainability endeavours. Prafulla Dhal Mr. Prafulla Dhal, National Coordinator, Climate Disaster and Livelihood - The Climate Project Foundation, conducted an eco-walk for sustainable coastal ecosystems in Odisha with 1100 village organisations 700 km coastal length and 2000 schools, colleges and FPOs covered and 600000 rural participants. This eco-walk is intended to carry on for 4 months and has begun from Ganjam to reach Balasore via Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhadrak. Gaurav Sharma Mr. Gaurav Sharma partnered with ACIC-VGU Foundation for Calling applications for Eco-friendly & Sustainable Lifestyle Accelerator. Nita Ganguly Ms. Nita Ganguly, National Coordinator, Waste Management - The Climate Project Foundation, was invited as a Guest Speaker & trainer by DES Kirti M Doongursee College for an workshop on Bio- Enzymes on 20th February at their Biology Lab. Read Our Latest Blogs COP28 Blog Series By Rituraj Phukan By Sagar Kalra By Tasnia Ahmed By Parth Joshi Checkout Our Previous Newsletters November - December Newsletter 2023 September - October Newsletter 2023 July - August Newsletter 2023 March - April Newsletter 2023 November - December Newsletter 2022 May - June Newsletter 2023 January - February Newsletter 2023 September - October Newsletter 2022

Climate Justice Climate justice refers to the idea that all people should have equal access to the Earth's resources and be protected from the impacts of climate change. It encompasses a wide range of issues, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change, and ensuring that the costs of addressing climate change are shared fairly. Climate justice also includes the protection of human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the rights of future generations. It also addresses issues of social and economic inequality and aims to ensure that the most marginalized and vulnerable communities are not disproportionately affected by climate change. At The Climate Project Foundation, we have adopted Climate Justice as a movement to address inequities with adaptation strategies and long-term mitigation. All our initiatives are strategically built on the ethos of utilizing solutions at hand while optimizing adaptation. To do so, we tag the opportunities of empowerment with our initiatives. Making Maharashtra Villages Water-sufficient The climate change-induced diminishing monsoon is expanding to the drought prone-areas of Maharashtra. The water bodies in the affected parts of Maharashtra continue to recede during the pre-monsoon season, affecting the villagers especially women, who are responsible to fetch water for the daily household chores. Water crisis has forced women in some parts of Maharashtra to walk long distances every day and even risk their lives to fetch drinking water by climbing down deep dried wells. The Climate Project Foundation under the guidance of Col. Shashikant Dalvi (Retd.) took up the task of making the villages in Maharashtra water sufficient through rainwater harvesting technique. The project was initiated in the 4 villages (Koregaon, Kurvandi and Thugaon) of Ambegaon Taluka in Pune district. With the kind support from ICICI, MAPS Industries, Vasundhara Sanvardhan, Pune, member of the Panchayat Samitis, Sarpanch, local officials, village residents and other on-ground partners, we have been able to complete the Rainwater Harvesting project at the four villages of Ambegaon Taluka in October 2021, making them tanker-free. Empowering the Local Communities in Odisha Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of the extreme weather events like cyclones, and floods in the coastal states. Odisha, the eastern coastal state of India, witnessed three cyclones in the year 2021. Super cyclones like Yaas caused heavy rainfall, sweeping and damaging the houses, farmlands and uprooting the trees on its way. The cyclones impact lives and livelihoods of lakhs of people especially the poor coastal communities. To help these coastal communities in Odisha, The Climate Project Foundation launched ‘Mission One Million fruit trees’ in 2019. The mission was launched to help the small and marginalised farmers by generating sustainable livelihoods and ensuring food security through plantation of fruit trees. During 2019-2021, 8.30 lakh trees were planted in the Puri district alone. In the long term, the mission would also help in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Climate Change Education in rural districts of Maharashtra The Climate Reality Project India focuses on education and capacity building in a fight against climate change through its Education Programs i.e. Teachers Training Program and Green Campus Program. The Education programs aim at sensitizing the educators and students about climate change impacts and solutions at hand. We prioritize local solutions and empower educational institutes to take climate action. We collaborated with one of the biggest educational societies in Maharashtra, Rayat Shikshan Sanstha with 444 Secondary Schools to take climate change education for deeper engagement in rural districts of Maharashtra. Our Teachers Training Program is being implemented in 50 schools and Green Campus Program in 5 schools from 5 districts (Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur and Pune) of Maharashtra in its first phase. This will ensure that the educational institutions have capacities to teach about climate change and create a green and sustainable environment for students to learn and take the message of sustainability forward through climate actions.

Newsletter (July-August) 2023 Our newsletter will provide updates from our programs, our fellow Climate Reality Leaders who are making difference and how each one of us can act to solve the crisis. And, we would love to know your story and act of leadership, because every action does matter. Green Campus Program Acceleration: Committee Meetings KR Mangalam University In July, Ms. Rekha Lalla led the Green Campus Program committee meeting at K. R. MANGALAM UNIVERSITY, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana, during which she de livered a presentation on the program and its protocols. The Committee consists of 08 members, who took detailed notes with the intention of implementing the discussed points in a subsequent phase. They also expressed their appreciation for the ideas presented. This was followed by a positive discussion on the university's green initiatives and audit process. These initiatives encompassed various sustainability measures, including using solar panels, grid improvements, wastewater treatment plants, incinerators, electric vehicles (EVs), and establishing a kitchen garden. The Committee sought our assistance in assisting the villages they have adopted to become "smart" communities, as well as expressed the need for a session focused on student engagement. Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute A workshop on the Green Campus Program was conducted at the Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, Subroto Park, Delhi. Educators from various science and social science backgrounds convened to receive an introduction to the Green Campus Program and learn about conducting audits. The GCP Committee received the GCP Audit booklet for audit guidance, and past winning schools' audit samples were presented to enhance their comprehension. H ere is a glimpse of it Not Just a Chulha! Workshop on Sustainable Cookstoves for Women in Kusumbi Village Under the climate justice theme, The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF) collaborated with the Maharashtra Foundation, New York in its initiative, “PANCHAM.” PANCHAM is a project that focuses on mitigating several socio-economic issues including women’s upliftment with a dedicated program named as, “Women Leadership Program for Climate Adaptation and Resilience.” PANCHAM is a project jointly implemented by Maharashtra Foundation, New York; The Climate Project Foundation, New Delhi; Action for Women and Rural Development (AWARD), Satara; and Resource and Support Centre for Development (RSCD) in the Kusumbi village of Satara district, Maharashtra. Under this program, TCPF organized a workshop on sustainable cookstoves for the women in the rural communities of Kusumbi village, which was implemented and facilitated by TCPF, and M G Green Solutions was invited to mentor the workshop. This program is supported by the Maharashtra Foundation. The objectives of this workshop were to: Raise awareness about improved cookstoves and emphasize their advantages over traditional stoves Train women to build sustainable stoves. Promote them as a sustainable income source for women. To improve the indoor air quality Indoor air pollution is a silent killer and poses significant health risks, especially to women, in multifarious ways. Indoor air pollutants are known to affect the unborn infant in the womb as well. When a woman of the house prepares a meal for her family with utter happiness and a sense of care and giving, she conveniently ignores the problems that she is facing, including inhalation of pollutants. The kitchen is not just a happy place for her where she stirs and pours her affection, but also a dangerous indoor space where carbon emissions are high, direct, and affect more. With the introduction of sustainable cookstoves, we ensured that such a problem is addressed. This five-day program was divided into one day of training in theory and its environmental importance, complemented by a practical demonstration, two days for hands-on training, wherein the participating women built 12 improved cookstoves, followed by training on user guidance, including safety precautions, the next day. The last day involved field visits to households, assessing the functionality of installed cookstoves, and gathering user feedback. One of the beautiful aspects of this program is that it has a revenue-generating model integrated with it, catalyzing “learn and earn” ecosystem that further catalyzes self-sustaining systems. Three types of cookstoves were created: Lakshmi (has Single burner, second pot and chimney) Bhagya Lakshmi (has single burner and second pot) Griha Lakshmi (has single burner) In a country where “chulha” (cookstove) is revered, we witnessed the kind of overwhelming emotions attached to it when the installation was being done. The women were immensely happy to know that we care for their health, financial independence and the planet. The aim is to replace at least 100 traditional cook stoves with sustainable stoves built by these trained women and empower more women. MOU Signing with GD Goenka University An MoU was signed between The Climate Project Foundation and GD Goenka University heralding the initiation of the Green Campus Program in the latter’s campus. This collaboration will encompass registration procedures, committee sessions, and cooperation with their Centre of Excellence for Occupational Health, Safety, Fire & Environment. The dialogue began by discussing the university's upcoming courses in design and sustainability. Together, The Climate Project Foundation and GD Goenka University aim to create a greener, more sustainable future for both the campus community and beyond. Here is a glimpse of it. Empowering Educators: Teachers' Training Program at Ganga International School A Teachers Training Program (TTP) was conducted at the Ganga International School, which aimed to train the trainers of the youth. The workshop was first Online followed by an offline or Physical session at the Ganga International School campus amid wheat fields. The program helped build capacity on climate education integrating education inside and outside the classroom for the educators in a strategic way so that they can help young people understand the causes and consequences of climate change, bring about changes in attitudes and behaviours to reduce the severity of future climate change, and build resilience. Ms. Rekha Lalla addressed the session with a presentation on Climate Change (Science, Impacts, and Solutions), urging the teachers and providing them with the tools to tweak their school’s curriculum and campus behaviours toward social and environmental responsibility, followed by a discussion and doubt-clearing session. This holistic training experience at Ganga International School served as a pivotal step towards equipping educators with the knowledge and tools required to empower the next generation of environmentally conscious global citizens. Green Campus Program in Kashmir We laid the foundation brick of sustainability education in Jammu & Kashmir on 5th of June 2023, without being completely aware of how it is going to fare. What we were not prepared for is the humongous flow of love and enthusiasm for such work we would get in the process. World Environment Day 2023 marks a historical moment for all of us in The Climate Project Foundation as we achieved many milestones, including the kickstarting of our flagship program, Green Campus Program (GCP) in Jammu & Kashmir. Our first event was Principals’ Conclave in Pampore, which received an overwhelming response. Since then, there has been no pause. We have created a team of 6 members working rigorously on propagating sustainability education through Teachers’ Training Program and Principals’ Conclave, followed by implementing GCP in the campuses of educational institutions. Several workshops on different themes were conducted in these educational institutions. Below is the list of schools & colleges have pledged to move towards Net Zero transformation and Just Transition, and have undergone the workshops: Name of the School Name of the Workshops Islamia Scientific Model Institute Air, Water, Climate Change & GCP The Cambridge Foundation School, Tangmarag Air, Water, Climate Change & GCP Green Meadows School Air, Water, Climate Change & GCP Srinagar International School Waste & Climate Change Dolphine International School Climate Change Islamia high school Drangbal, Pampore Biodiversity Teachers’ Training Program: A Teachers’ Training Program was conducted in the Satisar Educational Institute, Namblabal Pampore, Kashmir in the month of August. This one-day training program was attended by nearly 10 teachers. The Program aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues, introduce The Climate Project Foundation, its programs, and educate participants on the implementation of the Green Campus Program. “Kashmir,” as one of the attending educators mentioned, someone has come to make a difference in society by blending sustainability and education in 35 years and creating transformative impacts. Many more milestones to come. Giving a back glance at it standing today, and thinking about where it all started, we realize that J&K is one of the most beautiful states that is willing to look up towards a sustainable future. MUN Conference at Vega School Model United Nations conferences provide students with a platform to unleash their diplomatic and communication skills through the simulation of various committees of the United Nations. Vega School, Gurgaon, hosted an empowering Model United Nations (MUN) Conference, where students honed their skills, and The Climate Project Foundation was a part of it. Grade XI students, serving as the Secretariat and Organizing Committee, orchestrated the entire conference. Students from various schools of Gurgaon organized a tree plantation drive and actively participated in the MUN Conference. Ms. Rekha Lalla spoke on the importance of trees and native plants and what actions a student can take as young ambassadors of sustainability, thus bringing transformative ideas and experiences to the table. G 20-inspired Summit on Food & Water Nexus in Bal Bharti Public School Bal Bharti Public School (BBPS) Dwarka, a certified Green Campus Program institution, hosted a G20-inspired school summit on the Food and Water Nexus. BBPS, renowned in Delhi NCR, welcomed 20 schools from across India, each representing a G20 block. These schools shared their nations' water and food challenges. Bhavesh Swami, representing The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF), shared valuable insights drawn from TCPF's extensive fieldwork, particularly in regions like Beed and other parts of India. He shed light on the profound impact of water scarcity on agriculture, resulting in diminished farm yields and reduced incomes for rural communities. Students eagerly absorbed this knowledge, finding the summit enlightening. They gained a better understanding of G20 Secretariat operations and decision-making processes. TCPF acknowledged the winners and pledged future collaborations, including Mock-CoP initiatives. Here is a glimpse of it. Branch Debriefing on ‘Road to True Net Zero’ The Climate Reality Project India and South Asia Branch attended a debriefing session for Climate Reality Leaders, focusing on the 'Road to True Net Zero' vision by 2023; set up by Al Gore and the Climate Reality CEO - Phyllis Cuttino. The Climate Reality Project India and South Asia Branch attended a debriefing session for Climate Reality Leaders, focusing on the 'Road to True Net Zero' vision by 2023; set up by Al Gore and the Climate Reality CEO - Phyllis Cuttino. Aditya Pundir, the Director of India, and South Asia Branch, discussed the four key areas for climate branches in South Asia: Emission Reduction Reduce Green Washing Just Transition (Green Finance) Reforming the global financing system. International cooperation to COP The session also had open discussions on different ideas and Q&A posed by the Climate Reality Leaders. The highlighted the action-oriented approach of the Green Campus Program conceptualized and run by the India & South Asia branch in achieving the net-zero goal. EV Update Media National Summit 2023 TCPF joined hands with EV Update Media to organize “EV Update Media National Summit 2023,” on 23rd Aug 2023. The objective of the summit is to bring about awareness and bring out the positive change towards just transition towards our net zero goals through EV promotion, bring out the new technologies through fundraising of start-ups. Mr. Aditya Pundir, in his inaugural address, reiterated the importance of the low-carbon development path and how more research in the EV space would accelerate the ‘Just Transition’ path. The summit had technology showcase sessions on EV Bus commute services, two- and three-wheel commercial freight transport solution providers, SaaS-based battery solutions, govt. incentives and initiative sessions for the EV sector, to name a few. The second day of the summit, “Roundtable Investor and Startup Meet!” was for the budding start-up/entrepreneurs focusing on bridging the gap between new ventures, their mentorship and funding opportunities, where the participants got half an hour to pitch their ideas and take a strike at the luck in your tangent. TCPF collaborated with Sangam–Atal Innovation Centre who came on board for the ‘EV Update Investors’ Meet’ to gauge the potential technologies/solutions along with other VC fund managers. Here is a glimpse of the same. TCPF Joins Hands with Kirori Mal College TCPF participated in a 3-day event in Kirori Mal College for their Foundations Day. The theme of the day was, “Where Profit and purpose meet Sustainability.” Centre of Innovation and Social Enterprise (CISE) housed at the prestigious Kirori Mal College under Delhi University recently celebrated its Foundation Day on 21st August 2023. The day was celebrated with the theme ‘Connect – Where Profit and Purpose meet Sustainability’. Climate Reality leader Meghna Joshi, founder of SWAN Livelihoods, a non-profit working on skill enhancement of rural women. She shared her experience with the budding social entrepreneurs that being honest with your product/service offering and lasting relationships is the key to success as the theme of the event aptly embodied. The event featured the participation of over 20 women's Self-Help Groups mentored by Ms. Joshi, showcasing their products and creating valuable interactions between students, visitors, and these enterprising women. As a special guest, Mr. Bhavesh Swami from TCPF added further depth to the event. He delivered insights on the topic 'Pioneering Sustainable Ventures: Nurturing a Career Through Technology-Driven Enterprises.' He threw light on how simple projects like tree plantation can gain via technology add-ons like geo-tagging and online monitoring. He offered to make KMC a certified GCP campus where students can interact with TCPF affiliates, and find internships, and summer jobs as they begin the journey. Here is a glimpse of it. Acts of Leadership by Climate Reality Leaders Anand Pendharkar The Founder-President of SPROUTS Anand Pendharkar collaborated with Ashwamedh Pratisthan to combat climate change and deforestation by establishing a Learning Forest within the 15-acre Ashwamedh Learning & Heritage Sanctuary (ALHS) in Belpada Village, Thane District, Maharashtra, India. Launched during Van Mahotsav, this collaborative effort aims to enhance biodiversity by nurturing a rich variety of trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, grasses, orchids, ferns, palms, fungi, and fauna within the region. On another occasion, Anand delivered a lecture in the month of July about “Climate Emergencies and their impacts on Communities” to around 85-90 members of the Mohalla Committee Members Trust. The interactions were earnest, and they all seemed keen to engage with action in their respective areas. Radhika Kulkarni At the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Vidyalaya, Pune Municipal School, the Climate Reality Leader-Mentor Radhika Kulkarni; Mutha River Coordinator Lokesh Bapat; Principal Anita Geete; and Teachers - Anjali Kulkarni, Anuradha Dorge, and Rajan Kuber, to interact with a group of approximately 61 to 65 students from the sixth and seventh grades. The focus of this engaging interaction was 'Environment Protection.' This event served as an important platform for young minds to gain insights into environmental preservation and learn about practical actions they can take to contribute to a more sustainable future. Pournima Agarkar Ms. Pournima Agarkar is catalysing “Move For Earth - Global Cycle Ride.” Through this event she aimed to have over 500 cities, towns, and villages across the planet, took part in the cycle ride on 27th August 2023, where citizens took the open letter to their elected representatives. Dr. Priyadarshini Karve is a part of the Global Ride ahead of the G20 Leadership Summit. The aim of these rides was to highlight transport as a major source of GHG emissions and how meaningful interventions like cycle lanes, and pedestrian pathways can lower the burden on road traffic. Col. Shashikant Dalvi (Retd.) In Swachh Survekshan 2023, a Central Government team inspected Col. Shashikant Dalvi's society, focusing on Solid Waste Management, especially Wet Garbage Compost Pits. They documented the pits, inquired about manure collection, and received briefings on waste disposal. The society's success in waste management earned it a place on the shortlist, with the Central Government conducting the annual survey and recognizing effective cleanliness and disposal systems. Riders made a point that they want to work with elected representatives to figure out solutions at the local level for a better future for all. Pradeep Karuturi In August 2023, Pradeep Karuturi, a Climate Reality Trained Leader since 2020, established a school in the tribal village of Tapilamamidi situated in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, his fifth such initiative. His mission, driven by #climateaction, focuses on equipping indigenous communities with the essentials to protect their surrounding forests and biodiversity. Pradeep's journey to Antarctica in 2016 inspired his commitment to grassroots campaigns. In October 2021, he visited Tapilamamidi to help the community access education. He rallied them to build a community centre using local resources and designated a tribal member to teach literacy to children, launching the educational centre by June 2022. On August 16th, 2023, the District Collector, Sri Sumit Kumar, visited Tapilamamidi, marking the village's inaugural official visit. He inaugurated the newly constructed school with tribal child Chinnari. Rajesh, a tribal community member, expressed joy at the children's newfound access to education after 77 years of independence. The district collector praised Pradeep's efforts, declared the project a community model, and pledged funding for similar projects in five more villages, highlighting his commitment to the cause. Read Our Latest Blog Green Campuses Lead the Way to True Net Zero / Low-Carbon Future A rendezvous with Ms. Rekha Lalla about Green Campus Program Author: Smruti S Samantray Checkout Our Previous Newsletters May - June Newsletter 2023 January - February Newsletter 2023 March - April Newsletter 2023 November - December Newsletter 2022 September - October Newsletter 2022

APPLY NOW Frequently Asked Questions HOW DO I APPLY TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING CLIMATE REALITY LEADERSHIP CORPS TRAINING? The application to attend the training and become a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps is now open. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. If you are accepted to attend the training, you will receive more information via email to confirm your spot. HOW MUCH DOES A TRAINING COST? ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TRAINING? CAN MINORS ATTEND THE TRAINING? CAN I ATTEND THE TRAINING IF I LIVE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY? CAN I ATTEND THIS TRAINING IF I AM ALREADY A CLIMATE REALITY LEADER? MY PARTNER OR FAMILY MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL WITH ME. CAN THEY ATTEND THE TRAINING? WHAT LANGUAGE WILL THIS TRAINING BE IN? WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF THE TRAINING LOCATION AND WHERE SHOULD I STAY? WHAT IS THE CLIMATE REALITY LEADERSHIP CORPS? WHAT IS A CLIMATE ACTION? WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AT THE TRAINING? HOW CAN I STAY UPDATED ON THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT INDIA & SOUTH ASIA BRANCH?