Green Campus – Where Students Are Champions Of Change

 Climate Reality Project ( India )  along with Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  is working with campuses in Pune to convert them into green campuses. This result oriented impact driven program enables schools and colleges to conserve natural resources like water and biodiversity, optimize energy efficiency, manage waste and provide clean air etc . These are the five parameters on which the program is based with a definite methodology.

 This is a student driven program, where the youth take responsibility for their campuses under the guidance of their educators and management. With their support, the students are able to come out with solutions which can easily be  implemented. The program starts with a basic orientation and continues with training programs aimed to create awareness on climate change, sustainable development and build capacity inside the campus by training faculties and students.

 Once the on-boarding document is signed, a preliminary audit is carried out based on the parameters. A wish list in the focus areas is identified, setting a deadline. Based on the performance and audit, a Gold, Silver and Platinum ratings are given. However, this is not a one-time activity and the emphasis is on sustainability and the institutes are encouraged to keep up with their good work and do even better so that they can be a guiding light for others.

 At a time when we all are trying to conserve and protect the environment and fight for our mother earth, such initiatives give a new hope. This hope has the potential to translate into a motivation to work for our planet. And the best place for this motivation is the place where ideas can germinate and i.e. the Green Campuses!

 Creating awareness and education is the best way to move forward and Students can become champions of this change.

Shivam Singh – Volunteer at APCCI and Founder of ‘ExploreiT’- a start-up which specialises in undertaking projects around SDGs