What schools can do to help

From adding climate change education to the curriculum, to the day-to-day running of facilities, schools can make a huge difference when it comes to climate change.

Raising awareness about climate change can also be carried out by pupils, their parents, and staff.

If you work at a school, we hope that the information on this webpage gives you some ideas of what you can do to combat climate change, and engage your pupils in the topic.

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Transport

  • Encourage active travel such as walking, cycling and scooting, as well as public transport and car sharing
  • Start a campaign against engine idling outside the school gates. Idling produces emissions, and is bad for air quality - which can affect children's health
  • When arranging school trips, avoid flying. Instead, consider travelling by train, ferry or bus - or going somewhere closer

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Food

  • Develop more vegetarian and vegan options for school meals, and consider having meat free days. This can also encourage pupils to eat more healthily

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Energy

  • Develop an energy-saving campaign to encourage behaviour change (for example, switching off lights and equipment)
  • Reduce the energy use of your buildings, and keep them well-insulated
  • Install renewable energy, such as solar panels and solar thermal, on your buildings

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Waste

  • Run secondhand uniform shops, to encourage reuse
  • Review buying habits to produce less waste (for example, products with less packaging or less single-use plastic items)
  • Donate or sell used furniture and equipment, rather than throwing it away
  • Ensure there is a full understanding of what can be recycled onsite, to encourage recycling and reduce contamination

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On school grounds

  • Take advantage of free trees for schools, as well as useful information about how to plant trees from the Woodland Trust
  • Grow your own fruit and vegetables.
  • Introduce pollinator projects, like building insect hotels and growing wildflowers

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