New Delhi, April 22, 2023: HCL Foundation, the CSR arm of HCLTech, has partnered with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) to launch a national-level 'Generation for Climate Action' (GENCAN) initiative. It aims to promote awareness and knowledge on climate action in schools through its flagship program, HCL Harit - The Green Initiative.
To mark the Earth Day, the initiative was inaugurated on April 20, 2023, New Delhi, in the presence of noted dignitaries such as Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice-President, Global CSR & Director, HCL Foundation, Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director CEE, Dr. Sunita Farkya, Professor & Head, Department of Education in Science and Mathematics, NCERT, Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives, Dr. Pratibha Singh, WASH, Sustainability and Climate Change Specialist, UNICEF India and Mr. Sam Barratt, Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit, UNEP.
Over 200 students participated in this national launch. In addition, an interactive panel with nine students took place where students shared about the actions that they are taking at home and school towards a greener planet.
The Generation For Climate Action Initiative is a 10-month school-based climate education and action learning program targeting grades 6 to 12 in 50-70 government schools across India, involving approximately 2,500-3,000 children. The program will commence in April-May, 2023, and conclude in February 2024 with the announcement of the winners.
The program seeks to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to take individual and collective actions towards carbon footprint reduction of the school.
The program also aims to boost teachers' ability to engage students in carbon-neutral practices in their daily lives. The initiative will involve selecting one teacher from each participating school to serve as the program's coordinator and work with a group of 5-8 students from 6th to 12th standard.
Based on various themes like water, energy, waste, biodiversity, and sustainable practices, the program will provide students with the right skills to become:
o Climate Literate - Build knowledge, attitude, and values about climate change science and concerns
o Climate Detective - Explore and discover the school’s carbon footprint
o Climate Hero - Prepare a school climate action plan and act to offset its carbon footprint
o Climate Reporter - Document and report on the events
Once the school has registered, 1 or 2 mentor teachers must be nominated for the training, which will be followed by multiple rounds of discussions and interactions with other Youth Climate leaders before the final evaluation is submitted.
In addition, exemplary work will be recognised with the yearly 'Harit Climate Leadership Awards,' and an annual camp will be conducted for Harit Climate Leaders. A compendium of best practices, solutions, and case studies on climate action will also be published. A certificate of participation will be given to all student leaders, teaching and non-teaching staff, and schools.
Acknowledging the urgent need for climate change education, HCL Foundation's Dr. Pundhir, stated, "As the world grapples with the implications of climate change, it is important that we educate and instill the right values in our school children to lessen the impact of this global issue. HCL Foundation has been working tirelessly to conserve the environment, and our partnership with the Centre for Environment Education extends our commitment to climate change mitigation through community involvement."
Underlining the significance of integrating sustainability and climate change education into national policies, CEE Director, Mr. Sarabhai also noted, "Our mission through this initiative is to support and equip schools, teachers, and students to address today's climate challenges. The initiative is being launched at the right time when the role of sustainability and climate change education has been recognized at the national level in its education policy and other government initiatives."
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