Energy & Climate
Integrating green education
Green education can create new generation of eco-leaders across the MENA region, says new study.
8 October 2024
A leading climate charity campaign, Let’s Go Zero, is offering free accredited online training to help sustainability leads in schools to become more carbon literate.
From spring 2025, Let’s Go Zero – the national campaign for all UK schools, colleges and nurseries to be zero carbon by 2030 – will offer training accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project to schools and multi-academy trusts, to help their headteachers or sustainability leads to gain the knowledge and confidence to steer their school’s carbon reduction plans.
The course will address the Department for Education guidance for every educational setting to have a climate action plan and a sustainability lead in place by September this year.
Participants on the course will develop a set of actions to create or input into their school’s climate action plan, receive ongoing support from a Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisor after the course and be eligible for the internationally recognised Carbon Literacy certification.
Specifically designed for education settings, the first course starts on 11 March 2025 and will be delivered as four two-hour interactive sessions every week, for a total of eight hours.
The training is available for schools who are part of Let’s Go Zero, a campaign coordinated by climate solutions charity Ashden.
After taking a simple online pledge, schools are given access to climate action planning support from the charity.
The course is designed by Jen Gale, a Climate Action Advisor with Let’s Go Zero, who is a certified trainer with The Carbon Literacy Project.
‘This training will be incredibly valuable, wherever your school is on its zero carbon journey. One of the most important things to do in order to fight the climate crisis, is to talk about it. But that often feels hard – people worry they won’t get the facts right, or they’ll get into an argument, upset someone, or look stupid.
‘We’ really pleased to be offering a brand-new course for schools, which helps counteract all these fears and gives school staff the information, resources and communication tools to handle this important topic. It will be so useful for sustainability leads and other staff members looking to boost their skills and knowledge in climate change, carbon emissions and developing their school climate action plan.’
JEN GALE
Climate Action Advisor with Let’s Go Zero
The Let’s Go Zero campaign has gathered pace in the last year, with more than 5,000 schools in the UK now signed up to Let’s Go Zero and committed to being on a zero carbon journey.
As Let’s Go Zero signatories, they then gain access to free support and resources.
This free training is a new string in the campaign’s bow to accelerate the number of schools creating climate action plans and bringing them to life.
‘Schools are uniquely placed to contribute to the fight against climate change – not only can they take action to cut their own emissions and carbon footprints, but they have a huge role to play in educating young people about how the world around them is changing, and how we can all play a part in reducing the impacts felt now, and in the future.
‘We know creating climate action plans is something schools need help with, and this is a perfect way to get both the understanding of what’s required and a plan in place for your school to follow.’
ALEX GREEN
Head of Let’s Go Zero
Training will cover climate science basics on a local and global level, the current and predicted climate impact (with a focus on schools), climate justice and more – plus the all-important practical steps you can take to help your school reduce its climate impact.
Participants will also explore strategies for influencing others to take action on climate change, with follow-up support from Climate Action Advisors to complete their school climate action plans.
Oci Stott, who took part in a pilot course, said: ‘This is a brilliant course not only because it is engaging, practical and inspiring but also because it provided resources and ideas to weave into workshops that people run for staff and students on climate action.’
The training will cover vital climate-related topics, which will give every participant the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to guide their school in its climate journey.
Participants will be given ideas for ways to adjust their school’s climate action plan and ongoing support from an expert Climate Action Advisors. They will also get the option to become certified by the internationally recognised Carbon Literacy Project.
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