‘The Green School’ Project makes its presence at the World Sustainable Development Summit 2020

  Showcases the learning and outcomes of the project from Jharkhand and Odisha

Taking forward its baton of environmental initiative, Tata Steel showcased the learnings and outcomes of ‘The Green School’ project from Jharkhand and Odisha during the inaugural session of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2020, held in New Delhi. The summit is the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Started in 2001, the Summit has become a focal point for leaders and stakeholders from across the world to bridge thoughts and actions for sustainable development. The theme for this year’s summit was “Towards 2030 Goals: Making the Decade Count”. Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The thematic track ‘Educate, Inspire and Empower: Teachers’ for a greener tomorrow’ was organised at WSDS 2020 on the first day of the Summit. It provided a platform to the teachers, involved in the Green School project, from remote locations of Jharkhand and Odisha to showcase their learnings and collaborate with other stakeholders from different states. Such initiatives aim at strengthening their learning process and generate positive ripple effect in the community.

The thematic track was dedicated towards discussions and deliberations on green curriculum & sustainable learning, case studies for transferring local learning, using innovative and transformative ideas to solve problems within communities and barriers in integrating sustainability education into schools, etc. The Green School project recognises teachers as the torchbearers of change and focuses on their continuous professional development.

Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “We believe children and teachers of the current and future generations are key stakeholders in our journey towards a sustainable tomorrow. The Green School Project intends to involve and integrate school children and teachers into the larger national and global conversations around sustainable living.

I am happy to note the efforts of @GreenSchool project towards enhancing the capabilities of both students and teachers and make them step outside their ‘usual’ way of thinking, behaving and living by undertaking transformative actions at the local community level. The Green Curriculum that was presented at WSDS 2020 is a novel and much anticipated move in this direction.”

To impart experiential learning to the teachers, a 3-day intensive programme consisting of hands-on activities and interaction with experts was organised for building the capacity of the teachers on ‘Waste management and Biodiversity’. Activities like field trip to TERI gram to learn about vermicomposting, herbal and medicinal plants, wastewater treatment, energy efficient building, practical activities to segregate waste and waste treatment at institutional level, bird watching and bird nest making were organised.

Teachers from West Bokaro, Jharia, Joda, Noamundi, Jajpur and Angul participated in the workshop. It has motivated the teachers in developing students’ personal and social well-being and inspire them to undertake meaningful involvement in their local, social, economic, and ecological communities.

The ‘Green pedagogy’, designed under the Green School project operates with an objective to develop systemic thinking, participatory learning, and creative thinking for face future scenarios.

‘The Green School’ project, a joint initiative of Tata Steel and TERI, promotes environmental stewardship to enhance critical and interdisciplinary thinking through formal and informal modes of teaching. This project is being implemented in 34 schools across operational areas of Tata Steel in Jharkhand and Odisha.

The Green School project was launched in April 2017 with select schools with an overarching goal of creating amongst students, awareness on climate change and the ways in which a sustainable lifestyle can help mitigate the adverse impact of climate change. This is achieved by promoting environmental stewardship through both classroom and outdoor activities like teachers training workshops on digital pedagogy, development of green curricula, community impact projects, outdoor educational activities, development of Information Education and Communication (IEC) resources for joyful learning activities.

In September 2019, phase-III of the project was launched to expand to 34 schools to reach out to over 9,000 students, 450 teachers and around 5,00,000 community members.

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 33 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group (excluding SEA operations) recorded a consolidated turnover of US $22.67 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2019. In 2018, Tata Steel acquired Bhushan Steel Ltd (now renamed as Tata Steel BSL Ltd).

A Great Place to Work-Certified organisation, Tata Steel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000.

Tata Steel retained the ‘Global Steel Industry Leader’ position in the DJSI 2018. The Company has been recognised as the Climate Disclosure Leader in ‘Steel category’ by CDP (2017). Besides being a member of the World Steel Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel has won several awards including the Lighthouse recognition for its Kalinganagar Plant – a first in India, Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, ‘GreenPro’ certification for products (Tata Pravesh Steel Doors, Tata Structura, Tata Pipes) by CII, Authorized Economic Operator  (AEO) status (Tier 2) by the Directorate of International Customs (Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India), ‘Corporate Strategy Award’ by Mint (2018), Golden Peacock Award for Risk Management (2018) and Best Risk Management Framework & Systems Award (2019) by CNBC TV18. The Company also received the ‘Most Ethical Company’ award from Ethisphere Institute for the eight time (2019), Steel Sustainability Champion (2018) by the World Steel Association, Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards (2019), Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award by Institute of Directors (2018), ‘Best Companies To Work For’ recognition by Business Today, 'Asia's Best Integrated Report' award by the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (2017), among several others.

Last year, the Company launched a corporate brand campaign #WeAlsoMakeTomorrow..

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Disclaimer:

Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/or other incidental factors.

Kulvin Suri

Chief, Corporate Communications-India & SEA

Tata Steel

E-mail: kulvinsuri@tatasteel.com