Climate change action: schools

Introduction

Addressing the climate emergency is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind. Climate change threatens to adversely impact the lives of everyone, but disproportionately those of the most vulnerable. Schools and settings have a major role to play in addressing the emergency, both by reducing their carbon emissions in our communities and as educators able to shape and inspire positive behaviours and environmental stewardship, not just among learners but also parents and the wider community. Schools can set an example in the community, helping all of society to visualise and realise a future based on a reduced carbon footprint.

Hertfordshire County Council and HFL Education (previously Herts for Learning) have both prioritised action on climate change as a core part of their business with both organisations setting individual corporate goals around carbon neutrality. Many schools are have already taken very positive steps and are actively engaging with the whole school community on environmental sustainability and climate change topics.

We believe that effective action on climate change starts with school leaders. When leaders are inspired to take positive action they can inspire the whole community. When starting out in this topic we suggest you look at the sections on the Governance of Climate Change and Student, Parental and Community Action and Engagement. Once the school community is engaged then the curriculum, buildings and funding pages should provide a valuable reference point for getting started.

In these pages we aim to share resources, contacts and success stories with schools and settings to inspire all of our schools to take direct action and set goals around achieving carbon neutrality.