RCE Chandigarh - 2022

Activity Book on Climate Change
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Activity Book on Climate Change
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Chandigarh
Contributing organization(s) : 
1. PUNJAB STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2. VIGYAN PRASAR, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, GOVT. OF INDIA
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Dr. JATINDER KAUR ARORA
Organizational Affiliation: 
PUNJAB STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
E-mail: 
jkarora20@rediffmail.com
Name: 
Dr. BRINDER KUMAR TYAGI
Organizational Affiliation: 
VIGYAN PRASAR, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, GOVT. OF INDIA
Name: 
Dr. KULBIR SINGH BATH
Organizational Affiliation: 
PUNJAB STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Name: 
Dr. RUPALI BAL
Organizational Affiliation: 
PUNJAB STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Format of project: 
manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
India
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Punjab State Council for Science & Technology

MGSIPA Complex, Institutional Area,

Sector - 26, Chandigarh (India)
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Forest, Fresh water, Grassland, Mountain, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Secondary
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Punjab is one of the most prosperous states located in the north west of India. It has 23 administrative districts with total population of 27.74 million which forms 2.29% of the Country. The State is recognized as a classic example of fast developing economy with an agricultural base where about 62.51% population is rural. The state’s natural ecosystems are facing an ecological backlash due to over exploitation of natural resources, like soil, water & biodiversity. Being an agrarian State, nearly 82% of the land is used for agricultural activities and thus, is working on increasing its carbon sink by planting more trees outside the forest area. State is also striving to position education as a real foundation of State’s Development and also central in bringing societal transformation for combating emerging challenges of climate change.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
For the sustainable development of the State, it is essential that all social classes have appropriate opportunities to grow and prosper. Literacy rate is the primary indicator of the education level of an economy. Though, Punjab has made significant progress in improving its literacy rates over the years, differential in rural-urban literacy rates in the State follows the National trend, wherein the urban sector outperforms. Further, curiosities on climate change are growing, wherein the role of Education becomes much more crucial in shaping perceptions of young minds to more realistic understanding of climate science. Presently, students in the state have very limited knowledge to establish links between weather events and global climate change.
Education system needs to be aligned and respond to the pressing need of engaging youth in climate action and focus on to develop new skills, values and attitudes that lead to more sustainable societies.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Rationale: 
Climate change is unarguably the most significant environmental, economical & societal problem of the modern era. But many a times, misconceptions or limited knowledge about climate change becomes one of the biggest barriers to initiate actions involving youth. Moreover, frequently coming reports of hurricanes, wildfires, and threatening weather patterns are striking scare in young minds. In this context, climate literacy baked with practical knowledge can help eliminating such fear of an issue with viable solutions to enhance our resilience to climate extremities. It helps people to understand and address the impacts of the climate crisis, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to act as ‘Agents of Change’.
Today’s young generations are going to be most affected by the impacts of climate change. On the other hand, youth can be the ‘Change Makers’ and change the environment for the better, creating a more hopeful future for the subsequent generations.
The international community also recognizes the importance of education and training to address climate change. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement called on governments to educate, empower and engage all stakeholders and major groups on policies and actions relating to climate change. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under its Goal 4, clearly states the importance of education in fostering empathy for the environment and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Climate action is also identified as one of the key thematic priorities of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030.
Objectives: 
This Climate change book with engaging activities is an effort towards anchoring climate change in the school curriculum to bring urgent environmental and societal transformation. It aimed to harness the power of education to combat and adapt to climate change and ensure young people, especially students have the critical thinking & deeper understanding on climate change concerns as well as to develop skills needed to take action.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
This activity book has been brought out with the sole purpose of creating awareness about the impending climatic conditions. The younger generation and especially the school students need to be made aware about the forthcoming and looming threats due to climate change. In this activity book, around 30 activities have been designed with interesting facts and illustrations so that the students can understand the topics in a better way. The book is imparting practical knowledge to school students through hand-on activities besides infusing minds with sensitivity on environmental issues & encouraging them to adopt sustainable values from a young age.
Size of academic audience: 
This resource has direct reach to 5500 eco-clubs set up in the State (250 schools per district) in collaboration with Department of Education, Punjab and 100 Colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala
Results: 
This Activity based Climate Change Book is being widely used by students across the State, not only to enhance their knowledge base but also for application of knowledge in the real world. This educational resource material is also been appreciated by students as well as by teachers as it enabled them to better understand climate change's complexities, sectoral impacts, mitigation, and adaptation actions, in very simpler way through info-graphics, charts, illustrations and hands-on activities aligned with the school curriculum.
Lessons learned: 
To unlock concrete action for change, we need to change the way individuals think and act to ‘change minds’ and education is crucial to achieve the dramatic transformation that is needed. Moreover, understanding of the causes and effects of climate change is the first step in shifting mindsets, which thereby institute new ways of limiting its impact and adapting to its unavoidable effects. An equally important outcome of education is its potential to increase span of knowledge & breadth of youth driven ‘green good deeds’.
Key messages: 
This project has been an effort towards our shared responsibility to engage and empower youth through sustained education and learning on climate change to bring urgent environmental and societal transformation.
Funding: 
The project was financially supported by VIGYAN PRASAR, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, GOVT. OF INDIA

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2022-09-05 at 10.54.38 AM (1).jpeg (88.89 KB) Stakeholder Department & Target Group Meeting PSCST
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2022-09-05 at 10.57.01 AM.jpeg (80.65 KB) Secretary Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. Of Punjab on completion of project PSCST
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon Climate Change Activity Book.pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Indirect
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes