Governing boards in schools and multi-academy trusts are being urged to develop plans in the next year to reduce their carbon footprint.
The National Governance Association (NGA) has launched the Greener Governance campaign to encourage schools to introduce environmental strategies.
A survey conducted by the NGA last year found 44 per cent of the respondents’ school board had acted on climate change or environmental sustainability.
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However, the NGA wants this figure to substantially increase by 2022.
Emma Knights, chief executive of the NGA, said: “The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and COP26 makes it absolutely clear that there absolutely cannot be any more denial, dither or delay.
“By governing boards pledging to reduce carbon, their school or trust can make a significant contribution to reaching Net Zero.”
The NGA is urging boards to take the Greener Governance pledge:
- to reduce carbon at their school or trust;
- put their school’s or trust’s contribution to environmental sustainability on the agenda; and
- ensure a plan is developed to make this happen in 2022.
In order to support schools undertaking these pledges, the NGA has produced guidance in partnership with the National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE).
The guidance includes information on the “four Cs” - curriculum, campus, community and culture.
The NGA also released statistics to show the impact schools could have in the UK’s efforts to reach net zero.
What impact could the education sector have?
- Schools and universities represent 39 per cent of UK public sector building emissions and education sector buildings account for one per cent of all UK energy consumption.
- Over 24,000 schools in England provide the opportunity to enhance biodiversity, help nature recover, as well as the greater opportunity to engage children and young people in the natural environment.
- 1 in 70 car miles are associated with the school commute: there’s the potential to change behaviours to create significant long-term impact.
- Over 10 million pupils in schools in the UK means a climate aware education can prepare children and young people for a changing world, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and attitude to create a sustainable future.
Professor William Scott, chair of the NAEE trustee board, said: “Schools and teachers are now very aware that their students are concerned about climate change and environmental issues and want schools to do more to help them learn what they can do about them.
“We welcome this campaign as governing boards are in a unique position to help schools embed sustainability as a core value over the whole operation of the school, and then to monitor decisions and actions in terms of the school’s strategy and improvement plan.”
Helen Flynn, chair of the board at Northern Star Academies Trust and a finalist in the NGA’s Outstanding Governance Awards 2021, said: “It’s very rewarding to be able to respond to children’s concerns; they have put their trust in us as educators and we cannot let them down.
