SRINAGAR: A landmark gathering of climate champions, educators, and policy leaders took place today at the Green Campus Programme in Srinagar, celebrating a collective push toward transforming educational institutions into models of environmental sustainability.
Organized by The Climate Project Foundation in collaboration with Directorate of School Education (DSEK) and Wildlife Conservation Fund (WCF), the day-long event brought together over 200 participants from across Jammu & Kashmir, showcasing how schools and colleges are becoming climate-conscious, eco-active hubs.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Dr. G. N. Itoo, Director, School Education Department, Kashmir, emphasized the urgent need to institutionalize sustainability in the academic ecosystem. A committed education reformer, Dr. Itoo praised the Green Campus Programme for its grassroots impact and urged more institutions to align their vision with India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Environmental education must not remain theoretical. It has to reflect in the way we build, teach, consume, and grow. The GCP is making that transformation real,” Dr. Itoo noted during his address.
15 Green Campuses Awarded for Environmental Leadership
A major highlight of the programme was the Felicitation & Green Campus Awards Ceremony, where 15 educational institutions from across Kashmir were recognized for their outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship. The awarded campuses demonstrated excellence in areas such as rainwater harvesting, waste segregation and composting, renewable energy use (solar installations), biodiversity enhancement, and student-led eco-club initiatives.
Each awarded institution received a Green Campus Citation, a plaque, and inclusion in the upcoming GCP Casebook 2025 to inspire others across the region.
Programme Highlights: A Day of Insights and Inspiration
Inaugural Address by Adv. Nadeem Qadri, Advisor, GCP
Workshop by Ms. Rekha Lalla, Lead, GCP
Transformation Story by Mr. Firdous Ali, Principal, BHSS Soura and Syed Shabir Ahmad, Joint Director, DSEK
Vision Talk by Mr. Aditya Pundir, Director, India & South Asia, The Climate Project Foundation (TCPF)
Annual Report 2024–25 unveiled by Dr. G. N. Itoo.
Vote of Thanks by Mr. Aadil Ahmad Bhat, Program Manager, TCPF – J&K
This event reflects the growing momentum behind climate education and action in Jammu & Kashmir, with institutions playing a vital role in creating a sustainable, resilient, and responsible future generation.