The Government of Tamil Nadu has scaled up its Climate Education and Cool Roof initiatives across 300 Green Schools, marking a major step in integrating climate literacy with heat-resilient infrastructure in public education. Launched on 19 January 2026, the initiative positions the state as a leader in combining environmental awareness with practical climate adaptation measures in schools. The programme was inaugurated by the Minister for Finance and Environment, Climate Change, Thangam Thennarasu, alongside the Minister for School Education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The launch highlighted Tamil Nadu’s commitment under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission to transform schools into centres of sustainability and resilience against rising temperatures. At the core of the initiative is the Climate Education Programme, mainstreamed across the school system and aligned with the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission. Announced in the 2025–26 Budget, it transforms school campuses into “living laboratories” where students engage with climate change, natural resource management and sustainability through teacher training, student nature camps and the statewide Soozhal Arivom climate quiz. A key component of the programme is the training of 4,000 teachers from all 38 districts as volunteer Climate Ambassadors, with at least 50 per cent drawn from government and government-aided schools. The Training of Teachers module was released at the launch, and the first certified residential programme began with 210 teachers in Salem on 20 January 2026. These ambassadors will promote climate action and encourage students to adopt environmentally responsible practices. Tamil Nadu’s extreme summer temperatures have increasingly affected learning environments, with indoor temperatures in concrete-roofed schools often reaching 38–40 degrees Celsius during peak hours. Studies indicate that temperatures above 30–32 degrees Celsius significantly affect learning outcomes. Recognising heat as a state-specific disaster, the government has integrated the Cool Roof initiative into the 2025–26 Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission Action Plan. Piloted at the Ambattur Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School, heat-reflective roof coatings reduced average indoor temperatures by 3–4 degrees Celsius and ceiling surface temperatures by 4–5 degrees Celsius. Classroom temperatures during occupied hours fell from 31–32 degrees Celsius to around 27 degrees Celsius, improving comfort while reducing dependence on energy-intensive cooling systems. The launch also included inaugurations at Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Shenoy Nagar, and Chennai Higher Secondary School, Thiruvanmiyur. Green School Certificates were awarded to the Ambattur school and Kollumedu Government Higher Secondary School in Tiruvallur district for exemplary climate-responsive design. To support statewide expansion, three key publications were released. The Impact Study of the Tamil Nadu Green School Scheme, developed with the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, highlights the programme’s evolution into a climate literacy framework. From 25 pilot schools, the scheme has expanded to 300 schools, with rooftop solar installations reducing grid electricity use by 46 per cent per school, saving about 3,572 kWh and Rs 226,000 annually per school. A statewide rollout across 45,000 government schools could offset up to 91 per cent of electricity consumption in educational and health institutions. The report on mainstreaming passive cooling, developed with the United Nations Environment Programme, identifies cool roofs as cost-effective solutions to extreme heat, while the “Cool Classrooms, Green Futures” framework outlines strategies such as shading, ventilation and greenery. Combined measures can reduce roof temperatures by 10–15 degrees Celsius, indoor temperatures by 2–4 degrees Celsius and cooling energy demand by up to 70–80 per cent. Building on broader climate initiatives such as solar adoption in schools and wetland restoration, Tamil Nadu’s expanded programme aims to equip teachers, improve classroom environments and empower students to address climate challenges. By integrating education with infrastructure innovation, the state is strengthening its preparedness for climate change while ensuring schools remain conducive spaces for learning in a warming world.