Centre For Environment Education

CEE actively develops, coordinates, and implements a wide range of educational programmes for schools and the people it impacts. Through an extensive "cluster approach," these activities serve nearly 200,000 schools across the country. Beginning with the Ministry of Environment and Forests' National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) in 1985, CEE has always selected schools and the education system as the focus of its operations. Its work involves training teachers, developing educational materials, implementing school-level programmes, working together with other organisations, evaluating curriculum integration, and encouraging active learning through efforts such as eco-clubs, nature camps, and participation in protected areas.

The Climate Change programme at CEE focuses on climate education as a way of motivating action. It uses interactive ways to improve climate understanding, sharing of information, and awareness among the public. Participants include government officials, policymakers, students, researchers, academics, and environmental experts who are actively involved and inspired. The programme works with government ministries, state departments, and UN agencies such as the UNFCCC and UNESCO. CEE's climate change team interacts closely with the UNFCCC to support the Paris Agreement's Articles 6 and 12, referred to as Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). CEE supports climate awareness and action on a national and worldwide scale by building relationships and enabling discussion.

CEE promotes grassroots initiatives that are novel, viable, and gender-sensitive. CEE engages with NGOs and community organisations to improve their programmes based on its significant experience in EE and ESD. The Darwin Initiative, created in collaboration with the FSC, UK, aided neighbourhood organisations and non-governmental organisations in saving India's ecosystem. CEE expanded the idea to 60 projects around the country by providing customised training, project development, and financial support. This localised strategy, assisted by CEE's experience and tailored resources, increased the effectiveness of grassroots conservation activities.

CEE has launched its Higher Education Programme with respect to the importance of environmental education (EE) for college students. The goal of this effort is to involve students who are about to take on active positions in society as citizens, instructors, lawmakers, and leaders. It creates targeted programmes and learning materials for college students and teachers, working in collaboration with higher and professional education institutions to give customised courses. Furthermore, CEE has launched a project to create an EE curriculum for trainee teachers, supporting the addition of EE into teacher education programmes. These efforts are consistent with the Supreme Court's decision and the University Grants Commission's suggestion to include mandatory environmental foundation courses at the undergraduate level.

CEE's Comprehensive Rural Development activities are centred on rural income generation and efficient utilisation of resources. CEE showcases environmentally sound initiatives and technologies by incorporating environmental factors into development methods, hence increasing environmental consciousness. The Rural Programmes Group supports natural resource monitoring activities and promotes viable economic strategies. CEE creates realisation and delivers practical options for sustainable resource management through practical initiatives, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions.