Schools in England must have a Climate Action Plan in place by September 2025.
The Department for Education sets the vision: The United Kingdom is the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030; and lays out four strategic aims:
Excellence in education and skills for the changing world
Preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience.
Net Zero
Reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically in the transition to net zero.
Resilience to climate change
Adapting our education and care buildings and system to prepare for the effects of climate change.
A better environment for future generations
Enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and increasing access to, and connection with, nature in and around education and care settings.
Our Climate Change Education Vision:
- To ensure that all teachers and school leaders are equipped to give children the knowledge and tools to understand climate change, take climate action and protect the environment
Our Aims
- To support teachers and school leaders to become experts when teaching children and young people about sustainability and climate change.
- To develop a shared language / vocabulary about what climate change and sustainability is.
- To increase awareness of the environmental impacts of climate change within the community, staff and children.
- To engage people to care about the environment and to act to reduce the impact of climate change.
- Better equip children to make sense of climate change, discuss what is happening with their peers and ask questions.
- To support children to care for their community and environment