Revisiting the Green Schools Carnival 2025 and Awards Ceremony that celebrates the most sustainable schools in the country.
The Green Schools Programme (GSP) of Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi hosted its annual GSP Carnival and Awards Ceremony on February 4, 2025 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The vibrant celebration of the unique sustainability journeys of schools across the country brought together over 500 schoolchildren, educators, school principals and key education officials.
The GSP Audit 2024 — an environmental audit for schools — witnessed a record-breaking participation of 8,831 schools from 33 states and Union territories. Based on the audit results, the GSP team presented 25 awards across 11 distinct categories, recognising the trailblazer schools and educators. Additionally, the green-rated schools also received their certificates on stage. The winners and green schools were felicitated by the chief guest Sonam Wangchuk — an education reformist and innovator — along with CSE Director General Sunita Narain. The executive directors of CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury and Jagdeep Gupta also joined them in handing out the green certificates to schools.
One of the highlights of the GSP Carnival 2025 was the launch of the latest book of GSP ‘Imprints of Change: A Compendium of Sustainable Environmental Practices in Schools in India’. The book provides inspiring examples of promoting sustainable commuting practices and implementing air-quality monitoring systems; achieving 100 per cent solar-powered campuses; establishing student-maintained organic farms; promoting zero-waste food practices; and achieving zero landfill waste goals.
In addition to the awards ceremony, the Carnival also offered a variety of interactive activities and games to all its participants, viz. a cooking competition that honoured traditional ingredients; the Spoof-to-Stage skit contest; climate quiz and an art contest.
The annual reunion of the GSP fraternity at the Carnival serves as a testament to the irrefutable role of schools — of students and of educators — in bringing environment education to the forefront, taking positive actions that matter and driving meaningful change!
So, here’s to all the green schools that walk the talk!
Programme Manager, Environment Education Unit, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi