As the Paris Climate Change Summit approaches, countries are gearing up to spread awareness about climate change in their own unique ways. India has come up with a great initiative for spreading awareness. The Indian government has flagged off a 16 coach train, which will travel 20,000 km across over 60 locations, in seven months.
The train will run till May 6, 2016, and will cover various locations including Agra, Patiala, Haridwar, Visakhapatnam, Ambala, Anand, Allahabad, Rameswaram, Gandhinagar, and others. The ‘Science Express - Climate Action Special' has been given the green signal from the Safdarjung railway station jointly by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, and Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The world's first mass education programme on wheels will make a halt at more than 60 stations and will sensitise people on climate change and the issues related to it. The moving exhibition will throw light on topics including adaptation, mitigation, climate change and nature conservation.
The train will cover 20 states and about 62 lakh students are expected to pay a visit to this awareness programme. After being in the national capital for three days, the train will then leave for Rajasthan on October 18.
Various coaches of the train will explain themes including understanding climate change, the impact of climate change, adaptation concepts and India’s action, International negotiation on climate change and a more such topics. Topics including wildlife and nature conservation, biotechnology, science and education, etc., will also be covered.
The train will be open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm. A kids’ zone has also been included for the little ones to indulge in activities like math and environment puzzles. The joy of science lab has also been put up in one of the coaches where students can perform experiments.
Image Credit: greentechlead.com
