356 Schools Earn 'Green' Certification at CSE's Green Schools Carnival

Empowering Future Generations: CSE's Green Schools Carnival Honors Eco-Conscious Schools

In an era where environmental responsibility is paramount, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently celebrated India's most eco-conscious schools at its Green Schools Carnival. Integrating sustainability into school curriculums is crucial for shaping future generations that are mindful of their environmental impact. According to a study by the United Nations, educating children about sustainable practices can lead to a 20% reduction in a school's carbon footprint. This year's event honoured 356 schools with the ‘Green’ certification, while 25 schools received the Green School Awards for their outstanding efforts in 11 different categories.

The ceremony, attended by over 500 students, teachers, and officials, featured CSE Director General Sunita Narain and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who presented awards to schools with outstanding environmental initiatives. Wangchuk called for an education system overhaul to better address modern environmental challenges, while Narain praised the awarded schools for their dedication, highlighting how CSE’s Green Schools Programme inspires change. Punjab was awarded the ‘Best State Award’ for the second consecutive year, with 7,406 schools submitting audits and 196 earning the ‘Green’ rating. Hoshiarpur won ‘Best District’ for its high participation. The Changemaker Awards, given to schools that improved their sustainability rating, were presented to JP International School in Greater Noida and PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS Manauri in Prayagraj.

The Sterling Schools Awards recognized institutions that maintained a ‘Green School’ ranking for five years. Honorees included Delhi Public School (Ludhiana, Punjab), Kendriya Vidyalaya (Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh), PM SHRI KV Army Cantt (Pangode), RMK Residential School (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Shiv Nadar School (Noida, Uttar Pradesh), Shri Ram Centennial School (Indore, Madhya Pradesh), St Thomas’ School (New Delhi), Subodh Public School (Jaipur, Rajasthan), and The Fabindia School (Pali, Rajasthan). Several schools were recognized for excellence in specific categories. Kendriya Vidyalaya, NTPC Shaktinagar (Sonbhadra, UP) won the Air Action Award, while Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Chennai (Tamil Nadu) received the Energy Manager Award. Delhi Public School (Pune, Maharashtra) earned the Good Food Award, and Cambridge School (Indirapuram, UP) received the Land Manager Award. Queen’s Valley School (Dwarka, New Delhi) won the Water-Wise Award, and Pinegrove School (Dharampur, Solan, HP) was honoured with the Waste Warrior Award.

The 2024-25 Green Schools Programme (GSP) Audit shows a significant shift towards sustainability. 87% of schools eliminated vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and 93% banned packaged food. Additionally, 77% have adopted energy-efficient lighting, 71% have removed single-use plastics, and 26% use renewable energy like solar power. 25% have implemented rainwater harvesting, 30% practice waste segregation and composting, and 48% maintain over 35% green cover on their campuses.

Despite significant progress, challenges remain, with 16% of schools still burning waste and 8% using diesel vehicles. CSE's Green Schools Programme, with over 15,000 participating schools, continues to integrate sustainability into education and foster environmental responsibility. The Green Schools Awards 2025 emphasized that schools are at the forefront of the environmental movement, shaping a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Editor's Note:

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has once again highlighted the importance of sustainability in education through its Green Schools Carnival. It turns the attention of schools towards the urgent need to integrate sustainability into school curriculums. The data speaks for itself as a United Nations study reveals that educating children about sustainable practices can lead to a 20% reduction in a school's carbon footprint. This is a significant impact, and it starts with our schools. Moreover, The schools honoured at this year's event are trailblazers in the fight against climate change and exemplify how educational institutions can take the lead in promoting eco-friendly practices and inspire other schools to follow suit.

However, challenges remain in this journey, and the data from the Green Schools Programme (GSP) Audit is a stark reminder of the work still needed. With 16% of schools still burning waste and 8% using diesel vehicles, there is a clear path ahead. Yet, the progress made such as 87% of schools eliminating vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and 93% banning packaged food is encouraging and sets a positive example.

Skoobuzz sees these awards as a powerful reminder that schools are at the forefront of the environmental movement. It is through such initiatives that we can hope to build a sustainable future for generations to come.