Three-day residential climate education training for teachers begins in Cuddalore - The HinduUpdated - August 31, 2026 07:35 pm IST - CUDDALOREResource persons at a residential climate education training for teachers in Cuddalore district on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special ArrangementA three-day certified residential training programme on Climate Education Initiative for school teachers began at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) at Vadalur near here on Monday.The programme, organised under the Climate Education Initiative, is being conducted by the Department of Environment and Climate Change in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the School Education Department.Cuddalore District Forest Officer S. Gurusamy inaugurated the training programme.As many as 130 teachers from across Cuddalore district are participating in the training along with resource persons and team members from the Department of Environment and Climate Change.Focus on Climate educationThe initiative is being implemented under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM) to strengthen teachers’ understanding of climate change, environmental conservation and sustainable development.According to S. Manivel, Green Fellow, Department of Environment and Climate Change, “Climate change is emerging as a major environmental challenge, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity and communities. Creating climate awareness among students is therefore essential to build a generation capable of understanding environmental challenges and adopting sustainable practices.”Under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM), the Climate Education Initiative aims to strengthen teachers’ knowledge and capacity on climate change, environmental conservation and sustainable development through immersive and experiential learning. The programme combines expert sessions, interactive discussions, group activities and field visits to help teachers integrate climate literacy into classroom teaching, said P.S. Anisha, Department of Environment and Climate Change.The programme is being conducted under the leadership of Cuddalore District Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar.The district administration has been taking various initiatives relating to climate change and environmental conservation. The Climate Education Initiative is another significant step towards strengthening climate awareness among teachers and taking climate education directly to schools and students, Mr. Manivel said.The first day of the training will cover key themes, such as climate crisis and its impacts, Earth systems, biodiversity, and climate education. The sessions will include interactive activities and small-group discussions.The second day has been planned as a field-learning component. Teachers will travel from DIET, Vadalur, to Pichavaram to explore the mangrove ecosystem through a boat ride, attend a session on Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM) schemes, and visit the mangrove nursery before returning to the training venue.The final day will focus on biodiversity, climate action and solutions, and human systems and responsibility. The programme will also include a heat-study survey and a focus group discussion with teachers, followed by a post-training survey and valedictory function.The initiative seeks to build a strong network of climate-aware teachers who can inspire students to become environmentally responsible citizens and contribute to building a climate-resilient Cuddalore district, an official said.Forest Range Officer (Vriddhachalam Range) Pasupathy was present.Published - August 31, 2026 07:33 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }