Bengaluru’s climate future will be shaped in classrooms

Bengaluru stands at a pivotal moment in its climate trajectory. Over the past decade, scientific assessments have shown that India is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, with major cities experiencing rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and declining air quality. Bengaluru’s summers are now setting in earlier than expected, land surface temperatures have risen sharply over the past three decades, and the city has witnessed three major urban flooding events in seven years -- each causing crores of rupees in damages and displacing thousands.

These impacts are no longer abstract forecasts; they shape the daily lives of Bengaluru’s residents. As the city implements the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP), which outlines a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2070, one imperative is clear: climate education must anchor Bengaluru’s resilience strategy.

Children and young people will face the consequences of climate change more intensely and more frequently than any generation before them. Yet they often lack structured opportunities to understand these risks or participate in solutions. The Bengaluru Climate Action Clubs initiative was conceptualised, nurtured and championed by my predecessor, Preeti Gehlot, IAS, to bridge this gap. She spearheaded this innovative programme that could change the face of climate education in Bengaluru, under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. 

Why climate education? 

Research shows that climate education does more than raise awareness -- it drives behavioural change. Studies have already documented how climate learning among students increases parental concern and encourages lower-carbon household practices. International analyses by UNICEF and the World Bank highlight long-term emissions and resilience benefits when climate education is scaled systematically. Simply put, teaching children climate strengthens entire communities.

Building on this understanding, Climate Action Clubs -- established by Greater Bengaluru Authority’s Bengaluru Climate Action Cell -- equip students with practical skills and scientific thinking. Students across schools are conducting audits on energy, water, waste and greening; assessing their institutions’ carbon footprint; and developing action plans aligned with BCAP’s priority areas. 

Importantly, Climate Action Clubs is not a standalone school programme but a citywide movement, supported by knowledge partners and aimed at building uniform climate capacity across institutions. With 777 registered clubs and an ambitious target of 6,000, the initiative aims to ensure that every young Bengalurean understands the city’s climate risks and feels empowered to shape solutions.

What we are learning from schools

Early outcomes show that when given a platform, young people become capable problem-solvers. 

At DPS North, school audits identified waste as the area with the greatest scope for improvement. Students responded by designing paper bags to curb single-use plastics, organising composting drives in which kitchen waste from homes is processed on campus, and drafting a six-month waste-reduction plan -- marking a shift from awareness to measurable action. 

At Cambridge School, initiatives such as the “Go Green Campus Drive”, vertical gardens, and green corners in every classroom emerged from students’ analysis of their own carbon footprint. As they mapped emissions, they realised how everyday habits influence environmental impacts and began adopting small but significant behavioural changes.

At GBA Composite PU College, audits revealed large volumes of recyclable waste but poor segregation. Students introduced improved bin systems, staged awareness skits, and integrated sustainability
into classroom discussions. Their next challenge is changing climate-unfriendly adult behaviour.

These examples reveal a consistent pattern: students are able to connect data to action, using evidence to shift systems within their institutions. Initiatives such as the Makkala Climate Action Sabhe 2025, where students debated issues from water conservation to sustainable mobility, further show how climate education strengthens analytical thinking and civic engagement.

Scaling from 777 to 6,000 clubs

Achieving this scale requires a structured roadmap:

Equity and access: Multilingual, context-specific resources for government, aided, and private schools to participate meaningfully.

Capacity building: Training teachers and principals and facilitation of programmes to limit additional academic burden.

Partnership ecosystem: Leveraging expertise of BCAC partners – WRI India, the Climate Educators Network, CMCA, and Thicket Tales.

Community mobilisation: Engaging parents and local communities to support clubs, ensuring continuity beyond school hours.

Monitoring and recognition: Regular showcases, city-level convenings, and recognition mechanisms to track progress and sustain motivation.

Critically, these school-level action plans will integrate with ward-level climate priorities. Bengaluru’s 369 wards are central to climate governance, and student-generated data and ideas can inform ward micro-plans, GBA’s annual action priorities, and long-term climate adaptation metrics.

Across India, young people increasingly express climate anxiety. The Climate Action Cell is working to convert that anxiety into agency. If every school in Bengaluru had an active Climate Action Club, we would build not just a more climate-resilient city but a more environmentally responsible society. Climate education is not an add-on; it is an investment in Bengaluru’s future leadership.

(The writer is the special commissioner, Greater Bengaluru Authority)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.