The world is facing three critical planetary challenges—1) climate change and global warming, 2) biodiversity & nature loss, and 3) pollution & waste. In response, the United Nations launched the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) to drive global action toward restoring ecosystems and improving livelihoods. This initiative, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasizes transformation, collaboration, and large-scale restoration efforts across diverse landscapes.

As.a as Global Challenge Lead Focal Points, APSCC is spearheading efforts to implement the Decade’s action plan across 1,000 cities worldwide under the core theme: Prevent, Halt, and Restore. Over the past two years, APSCC has successfully piloted multiple ecosystem restoration initiatives in collaboration with local authorities. Building on these efforts, APSCC is launching the National-Level Green Campus for Green Cities Initiative for Universities & Higher Educational Institutions in India and Beyond.

This one-day capacity-building program is tailored for education administrators, including Principals, Vice-Principals, Directors, and institutional representatives. The event will introduce the flagship initiative “Green Campuses for Green Cities” and provide training through a Four-Pronged Participatory Approach:

• Compliance – Green Protocol Compliance through Baseline mapping and adherence to environmental regulations.

• Education – Environmental/ Sustainability education – Assessment of students’ and faculty’s sustainability awareness – Sustainability Literacy Test

• Commitment – A formal institutional commitment to sustainability – Ten-Point Action Plan of the Talloires Declaration

• Action – Tracking and improving campus sustainability performance in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).