Advocate Nadeem Qadri for transforming Kupwara into a plastic-free district

KUPWARA: A day-long Green Campus workshop was conducted at the Government Higher Secondary School in North Kashmir’s Kupwara Town on Monday. The workshop, organized by the Climate Reality Project in collaboration with the School Education Department, signifies a significant stride towards promoting environmental sustainability in the region.
Advocate Nadeem Qadri, serving as Programme Advisor, along with Aadil Bhat, the Programme Manager, and Nadeem Dar, the Programme Coordinator, were among the key figures present at the event. Heads of Institutions (HOIs) and Eco Club Incharges from various model schools across the district also participated.
This workshop forms part of a broader initiative aimed at transforming school campuses into green and sustainable environments. It seeks to foster awareness and prompt action on climate change at the grassroots level, thereby contributing to a more environmentally conscious community.
The escalating climate crisis is having a severe impact on regions such as the Kashmir Valley, affecting its agriculture, health, economy, biodiversity, and natural resources. The urgency of the situation was recently underscored by the UN Secretary-General’s statement about “global boiling,” highlighting the critical need for immediate action, a Green Campus official told Kashmir Reader.
In response to this pressing issue, the Kashmir Valley is taking proactive steps to address climate change through the Green Campus Programme (GCP). This initiative is supported by The Climate Reality Project, an organization founded by Nobel Laureate Al Gore. The GCP is actively engaged across the valley, with efforts led by Programme Lead Rekha Lalla and supervised by Aditya Pundir, the Director of The Climate Reality Project for India and South Asia. Key team members driving this initiative include Rekha Lalla, Programme Lead, Advocate Nadeem Qadri, Programme Advisor, Aadil Bhat, Programme Manager, and Nadeem Ahmad Dar, Programme Coordinator.
Through the Green Campus Programme, these leaders are working tirelessly to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote sustainable practices throughout the Kashmir Valley.
The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK), under the leadership of Dr. Tasaduq Hussain, has played a crucial role in implementing the Green Campus Programme (GCP) in government institutions. Significant progress has been made in districts such as Pulwama, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla, and Bandipora. Introductory sessions have been conducted involving education officials and teachers, marking an important step toward integrating sustainable practices and climate awareness in the region’s educational framework.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Advocate Nadeem Qadri said, “I am grateful to the Government Boys Higher Secondary School Kupwara and its Principal Mehraj ud Din Shah for giving us the opportunity to introduce the Green Campus Programme, an international flagship initiative by The Climate Reality Project, here in Kupwara. Moreover, I am extremely thankful to Dr. Tasaduq Hussain, Director of School Education Department, Kashmir division, for giving us the opportunity to implement the Green Campus Programme in nearly 100 schools across 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley. Today, our team from the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which I head as Chief Executive Director, along with my team members Aadil Bhat and Nadeem Ahmad Dar, is here in Kupwara as part of this effort.”
Qadri also expressed his gratitude to District Cultural Officer Rayees Ahmad, who was responsible for organizing the program. “It was a wonderful experience to see Heads of Institutions (HOIs) along with Green Teachers coming from different schools to this wonderful venue. It felt very good to be here.”
Qadri said, “I hope that Kupwara will soon become a plastic-free district. I have also taken note of some issues that need to be addressed here in Kupwara. I am grateful to all the Heads of Institutions and Green Teachers who came here from different schools. I want to say that this is the land of Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri (RA), and we are developing a center of excellence in his name. Insha Allah, I will be consulting with my advisors to decide how we will advance this center. To ensure the success of the Green Campus Programme, I am thankful to the Directorate of School Education office, particularly Nisar Ahmad, the Divisional Cultural Officer, who gave us this opportunity. I wish all the best for this programme and am hopeful that it will take Kupwara to new heights.”
As for the Green Campus Programme, we are converting schools into green campuses by implementing certain protocols related to air pollution, plastic pollution, and biodiversity profiling. We have a team of experts and consultants working with us, and their sole objective is to convert these 100 government schools, along with an additional 100 private schools, into green campuses, Qadri said.
To reduce plastic waste on campus, we can implement protocols for segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. We can establish a green policy that introduces these practices in schools, aiming to make our schools sustainable and carbon-neutral. Additionally, it is essential to raise awareness among children as it is their duty, responsibility, and constitutional obligation to fulfill. In line with this, the primary objective of our Green Campus Programme is to convert schools, colleges, and universities into green campuses, he added.

BILAL HABIB