Evangelische Bank eG
IBAN: DE85 5206 0410 0000 0001 24
BIC: GENODEF1EK1
Indien: Environmental protection
India: Schools for a Better Climate
India is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. At the same time, it is also doing pioneering work in many areas to overcome this challenge. For example, the Church of South India (CSI) uses its schools as multipliers for practical conservation.
The effects of climate change on the Indian subcontinent can no longer be ignored: extraordinarily heavy monsoon rains regularly cause serious devastation, while periods of drought and extreme weather are increasingly leading to failed harvests. The Church of South India (CSI) is the only church in India to have incorporated the topic of environmental protection in its constitution and mission statement. In doing so, the church is emphasising the fact that Christians have an obligation to protect God’s creation.
Training courses for teachers
The CSI supports many schools in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Over the coming years, these are to be successively aligned with the principle of sustainability and converted into “green schools”. To achieve this, the CSI is working closely with the respective school administrators. By 2022, one in two of their schools will be equipped with climate-friendly water treatment and solar power facilities. The training and further education of teaching staff also focusses on climate change.
India
India is responsible for approx. 4% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
Allowing environmental protection to be experienced practically
In class, the topic of climate change is broached across different subjects and in an action-oriented manner. In this way, pupils learn to think in broad terms and to systematically develop solutions for dealing with climate change. The girls and boys first develop climate-friendly environmental management for their schools: they discover what opportunities exist for saving water and power, recycling waste, and keeping the air clean. The results of their tests are documented precisely by children and young people. The children, young people and teachers also pass their knowledge on to their families and congregations.
Project goals
The CSI is the only church in India to have incorporated environmental protection in its constitution. At its schools, it is committed to a climate-conscious, ecologically-responsible lifestyle. Lessons are designed to sensitize pupils to the challenges of climate change – and to give them the knowledge of how to deal appropriately with these challenges. Educating teachers on the subject of climate change plays an important role in this.
Project work
The project strengthens the knowledge of teachers, children and young people regarding how to deal with climate change. They learn how to deal with the consequences of global warming and pass on their knowledge to their families and congregations. Solar power and water treatment systems are installed at selected schools.
Project partner
Today, the Church of South India (CSI) is the largest Protestant church in India with almost four million members in 24 church dioceses and 15,000 parishes. It is therefore one of the largest Protestant churches in Asia. The CSI maintains kindergartens, schools, colleges, professional institutes and hospitals. The church's territory covers the large area of the five southernmost Indian federal states of Karanatka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
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