The future direction of sustainability?
Educational organisations can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and understanding in children and students regarding climate change. This is where the Carbon Footprinting in Schools Programme comes in.
So, what is the problem?
So, what is the problem?
- Children and students are not being given the opportunity to learn enough about climate change
- There is a lack of understanding from schools about their carbon footprint, or what to do about it
- Teachers don’t necessarily know how to teach climate change effectively
- Students can lack employability skills
- Climate change learning has a tendency to focus on ‘the science’, often neglecting behavioural change actions
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The Solution: The Carbon Footprinting in Schools Programme
Piloted at the University of Leicester, this programme provided university students with the knowledge and skills to be able to confidently teach children about climate change. By going into local primary and secondary schools they provided children with an understanding of climate change and the impact they can have as individuals. They also produced a detailed carbon footprint for the schools.
The relevance and necessity of this programme is hard to ignore when we consider that schools and Universities are currently struggling to convey meaningful learning to pupils[1] and students[2] on climate change, further emphasised when Education Minister Michael Gove was accused of attempting to axe climate change from schools curricula (thankfully it didn’t happen!)[3].
The Outcomes
The programme produced a win-win-win-win situation! Here’s how…
The Carbon Footprint in School vision towards a sustainable future, was recognised when it was shortlisted for a Green Gown Award in 2013.
Piloted at the University of Leicester, this programme provided university students with the knowledge and skills to be able to confidently teach children about climate change. By going into local primary and secondary schools they provided children with an understanding of climate change and the impact they can have as individuals. They also produced a detailed carbon footprint for the schools.
The relevance and necessity of this programme is hard to ignore when we consider that schools and Universities are currently struggling to convey meaningful learning to pupils[1] and students[2] on climate change, further emphasised when Education Minister Michael Gove was accused of attempting to axe climate change from schools curricula (thankfully it didn’t happen!)[3].
The Outcomes
The programme produced a win-win-win-win situation! Here’s how…
- Confident students with better employability skills
- Educated pupils and teachers who are empowered to change their behaviours
- Schools who know how to and want to tackle their carbon footprints
- Universities that provide networking, learning and outreach opportunities for their students
The Carbon Footprint in School vision towards a sustainable future, was recognised when it was shortlisted for a Green Gown Award in 2013.
WHAT WOULD FUNDING FOR CFiS ACHIEVE?
“The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the project. They were all able to reflect on their own actions contributing to pollution and came up with practical solutions to reduce their carbon footprint”
(Teacher, Avenue Primary School, Leicester)
(Teacher, Avenue Primary School, Leicester)
How YOU can help make this national?
We have a partnership ready to take this project to the next level of testing.
Future We Want, the National Union of Students (NUS), Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges (EAUC), Sustainability and Environmental Education (SEEd) and Keele and Leicester Universities are ready to pilot this project at a national level once funding is secured.
If you would like to discuss how you can fund this project, please contact us.
[1] www.tes.com/news/government-failing-ensure-pupils-are-taught-real-world-impact-climate-change-mps-told; www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/school-curriculum-fails-to-reflect-the-urgency-of-the-climate-crisis
[2] www.kateraworth.com/2018/12/07/how-can-universities-teach-more-students-more-about-climate-change/
[3] www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40250214
We have a partnership ready to take this project to the next level of testing.
Future We Want, the National Union of Students (NUS), Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges (EAUC), Sustainability and Environmental Education (SEEd) and Keele and Leicester Universities are ready to pilot this project at a national level once funding is secured.
If you would like to discuss how you can fund this project, please contact us.
[1] www.tes.com/news/government-failing-ensure-pupils-are-taught-real-world-impact-climate-change-mps-told; www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/school-curriculum-fails-to-reflect-the-urgency-of-the-climate-crisis
[2] www.kateraworth.com/2018/12/07/how-can-universities-teach-more-students-more-about-climate-change/
[3] www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40250214
Our Partners
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