West Bengal Empowers Children for Climate Change Fight

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has launched innovative climate change projects for schools, aiming to engage children through hands-on learning. These initiatives are designed to impart essential knowledge, skills, and values for responsible action and self-protection against climate challenges. The commission has forwarded these projects to the school syllabus committee for potential integration into textbooks.

Projects include creating landslide awareness dioramas, designing posters on climate change impacts, developing comic strips about deforestation, and building DIY rainwater harvesting models. Other activities involve photo essays on mining hazards, creative writing on climate topics, and disaster kit preparation. A 'cool-my-school' campaign is also proposed to mitigate urban climate change.

The WBCPCR has also developed specialized booklets on climate change and disaster management for children. These resources include a white paper with recommendations to enhance the state's disaster management policy, ensuring it is sensitive to children's needs and builds community resilience through a child-centric approach.

Recognizing the inseparable link between the climate crisis and child rights, the commission stressed that disaster response must be inclusive and equitable, prioritizing vulnerable children. They advocate for a special unit to develop risk training and disaster information tailored for students, focusing on preparedness, response, and recovery. The ultimate goal is to place children at the center of climate-resilient governance and their meaningful participation in climate action.