Press Release Tamil Nadu launches the first Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change and Sustainability for Chief Minister's Green Fellows Hon'ble Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. V. K. Rajeev, launched the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change and Sustainability designed exclusively for the Green Fellows under the Chief Minister's Green Fellowship Programme (CMGFP), at Anna University, Chennai on 16th June 2026. The programme was launched in the presence of Tmt. Supriya Sahu, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department; Tmt. Asha Ajith, I.A.S., Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change; Dr. V. Kumaresan, Registrar (i/c), Anna University; Prof. G. Kumaresan, Director, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University; Dr. R. Saravanan, Professor and Coordinator, Chief Minister's Green Fellowship Programme; Dr. M. Venkat Ramanan, Professor, Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, and other faculty members and Green Fellows. The Chief Minister's Green Fellowship Programme is a first-of-its-kind Government- led initiative in India that seeks to empower young professionals to contribute to climate action, environmental sustainability and grassroots development. The programme provides an opportunity for young leaders to work closely with district administrations, local communities and government institutions, while supporting the implementation of Tamil Nadu's environmental and climate initiatives. To further strengthen the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities of the Green Fellows, the Government of Tamil Nadu has partnered with the Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, to offer an exclusive Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change and Sustainability. The diploma programme has been designed to equip Fellows with a comprehensive understanding of climate science, environmental governance, sustainability, climate policy, natural resource management and emerging environmental challenges. The curriculum covers key areas including climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy technologies, climate-resilient urban planning, carbon accounting, carbon markets, climate finance, disaster risk reduction, pollution control technologies, ESG frameworks, environmental management and corporate sustainability. The programme follows a multidisciplinary and practice-oriented approach, combining academic learning with field experience gained through the Fellowship. A major highlight of the course is the project thesis component, through which Fellows will work on real-world climate and sustainability challenges under the guidance of academic experts and government practitioners. Structured as a 42-credit, three-semester programme, the diploma is aligned with globally recognised frameworks including the IPCC Assessment Reports, the Paris Agreement, India's Nationally Determined Contributions, the Sendai Framework, GHG Protocol and other internationally accepted sustainability standards. The blended learning model has been specifically designed to enable Green Fellows to pursue academic learning while continuing their field responsibilities. In his address to the Green Fellows, Hon'ble Minister complimented Anna University for bringing out a programme of this nature which will equip the green fellows with a professional degree. He further said that this will provide better opportunities to Green Fellows with international agencies for their future careers. Addressing the gathering, Ms. Supriya Sahu emphasized the importance of intergenerational equity in climate action, noting that today's decisions must safeguard the well-being of future generations from the escalating impacts of climate change. She highlighted that the Chief Minister's Green Fellowship Programme plays a crucial role in empowering young people to contribute to grassroots climate initiatives and bridge the gap between policy formulation and on-ground implementation, particularly at the district level. The launch of the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change and Sustainability marks yet another significant step in Tamil Nadu's efforts to invest in youth leadership and build long-term capacity for climate action, environmental governance and sustainable development. ****** Issued By: - DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9