IAS trainees study Bareilly Cantonment's carbon-negative governance model in India

A group of 21 IAS officer trainees visited Bareilly Cantonment Board to learn how it became India's first carbon-negative cantonment. Officials explained the mix of afforestation, biodiversity conservation, waste management, renewable energy adoption, and carbon sequestration that underpins the model. The visit is part of a field exposure program focused on sustainable urban development and citizen-centric administration. The trainees also toured local schools, a women's skill center, and a heritage conservation site to see how environmental goals are tied to education, economic empowerment, and healthcare. The cantonment's approach integrates digital governance with measurable emissions reductions, offering a replicable case for other municipal bodies in India. For those tracking municipal climate action, this is a concrete example of how local government can combine policy intent with on-the-ground delivery. The key question is whether the carbon accounting is rigorous enough to back the 'carbon-negative' claim, and how easily the model scales to larger urban areas.