New Pathway for Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Journey
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham proudly announces its commitment to carbon neutrality during the award ceremony of the coveted “Platinum” level certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Campus Rating System.
On November 7, 2023, the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was officially awarded the coveted “Platinum” level certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Campus Rating System.
This prestigious recognition marks a significant milestone in our commitment to creating a sustainable and eco-friendly educational environment. The Platinum certification, the highest level of recognition offered by the IGBC, underscores our dedication to implementing green practices and infrastructure throughout the campus.
Amrita announced its commitment in reduction of Scope 1 , scope 2 scope 3 emissions by 2030. With a whopping 65 % reduction with its investment in low carbon energy production , amrita marked a significant step in this direction .
The University home to two Unesco chairs, part of Civil 20 India 2023 initiaitve has stated its commodity through an Net zero strategy document .
Prior to this achievement, the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has been recognized for its green initiatives with several prestigious awards:
The Platinum certification process involved rigorous assessments of the campus’s sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and the integration of green spaces. Our efforts have not only reduced the campus’s environmental footprint but also created a healthier and more inspiring space for students and faculty.
The award ceremony was graced by esteemed authorities from the Indian Green Building Council, who presented the Platinum certification to the campus officials. This accolade is a testament to the tireless efforts of our faculty, students, and staff, who have collectively fostered an ethos of environmental responsibility and innovation.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham remains committed to advancing its green initiatives and inspiring other educational institutions to follow a path towards sustainability. We believe that our efforts will pave the way for a greener future in the realm of higher education.
The first campus, located in Coimbatore, in the foothills of Western Ghats was a barren land. With global temperatures constantly on the rise and increasing dry land cover, the biodiversity in the region was constantly on the decline. Recognizing the urgency to cultivate a harmonious relationship between residential community and nature, the campus embarked on a transformative journey towards nature positivity.
Over 20 years, through multi-stakeholder efforts aimed at ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, massive tree plantation drives, global seedball campaign and bee conservation projects, the campus has now been transformed into an oasis of lush greenery serving as a rich biodiversity hub. The sprawling 4 acre campus has recorded a drop in average temperature by 5°C. The tranquil surroundings hosts an array of exotic birds alongside numerous indigenous plants and nocturnal species rare to the region.
With the learnings imbibed, all the Amrita campuses are being transformed into self-sustained ecosystems.
Awards: First rank in the technical institutions category in the Swachatha rankings 2017 by Govt. of India for Coimbatore. Amrita’s Amritapuri Campus in Kerala, India, has been recognized as the first bee friendly campus in the state.
Tree plantation drives in collaboration with Mata Amritanandamayi Math, the parent organization, which is a member of the UN Billion Tree Campaign. Over 2Mn trees have been planted on campuses and communities globally in partnership with UN & Civil Society Organizations. Through Eternal Forests, a reforestation program, students & faculty are encouraged to plant and care for saplings, particularly native species. As part of this initiative, greenhouses are established to independently produce 100,000 saplings bi-annually.
Launched by Amrita in collaboration with the Civil 20 India working group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities, the Global Seedball Campaign aims to promote environmental sustainability and restore fragile ecosystems. Spanning 5 continents and 12 Indian states, the campaign has dispersed 2.5 million seedballs since its April 2023 inception, attracting global attention and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships with CSOs, public, and private organizations. The Indian Navy’s participation, dispersing over 500,000 seedballs via helicopter over 3,715 hectares of land, underscores its significance.
Bee habitat conservation has also been undertaken as a student-led initiative to ensure eco-harmony between humans and nature. Bee hives have been installed in Amrita campuses to conserve the fragile bee population. In this regard, Amrita’s Amritapuri Campus in Kerala, India, has been recognized as the first bee friendly campus in the state.
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