Tamil Nadu Govt Launches Climate Literacy In 300 Schools
The Government of Tamil Nadu has scaled up its Climate Education and Cool Roof initiatives across 300 Green Schools to educate about climate change. This move, launched on January 19, 2026, blends climate literacy with practical, heat-resilient infrastructure in public education.
The initiatives were formally inaugurated by the Minister for Finance and Environment, Climate Change, Thiru. Thangam Thennarasu, alongside Minister for School Education, Thiru. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The event highlighted Tamil Nadu’s commitment under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission to make schools not just places of learning, but active hubs for sustainability and resilience against rising temperatures.
At the heart of the launch is the Climate Education Initiative now mainstreamed across the school system. Anchored in the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission and announced in the 2025-26 Budget, it transforms school campuses into “living laboratories.” Students engage hands-on with topics like climate change, natural resource management, and sustainability through activities such as residential teacher training, student nature camps, and the statewide Soozhal Arivom climate quiz.
A key component is training 4,000 teachers from all 38 districts as volunteer Climate Ambassadors, with at least 50 per cent from government and government-aided schools. The Training of Teachers (ToT) module was released during the event, and the first certified residential programme kicked off with 210 teachers set to train in Salem starting January 20, 2026. These ambassadors will champion climate action, inspiring students to become environmentally conscious citizens.
Tamil Nadu’s scorching summers have made heat a serious barrier to education. Many concrete-roofed schools see indoor temperatures soar to 38-40 degrees Celsius during peak hours, hampering concentration, comfort, and performance. The state has declared heat a State-specific disaster, with studies showing temperatures above 30-32 degrees Celsius significantly impair learning and exam results.
To counter this, the Cool Roof initiative, using heat-reflective coatings, has been integrated into the 2025-26 Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission Action Plan. Piloted successfully at Ambattur Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School, it delivered impressive results: average indoor temperature drops of 3-4 degrees Celsius, ceiling surface reductions of 4-5 degrees Celsius, and occupied-hour classroom temperatures falling from 31-32 degree Celsius to around 27 degree Celsius. This reduces reliance on energy-intensive fans or air conditioning while improving student well-being.
The launch included inaugurations at Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Shenoy Nagar, and Chennai Higher Secondary School, Thiruvanmiyur. Green School Certificates were awarded to the Ambattur school and Kollumedu Government Higher Secondary School in Tiruvallur district for their exemplary climate-responsive designs.
