Teachers and students roll out events for Climate Action Countdown month
Schools across the UK are engaging in 29 days of fun, impactful and educational environmental activities. Here’s what you need to know.
Running from 7th June to 5th July 2024, Climate Action Countdown is a month of collaborative and informative events and happenings aimed at inspiring young people to support global ecosystems, net zero transition, and other ‘green’ agendas.
In total, 30 climate charities are involved in the campaign, which forms part of the Let’s Go Zero initiative to make all schools carbon neutral bu 2030. Uniform swaps, spotlights on green careers, vertical gardening, constructing bug and bird houses, petitioning, sustainability bingo, active travel mini-advenures and more are all part of the initiative.
Schools are being encouraged to take part even if just for a small window of the full month, with a year or whole-of-community assembly seen as the best way to brainstorm ideas with pupils and explain how and when events will work.
‘All the activities are fun and it’s a really eclectic pick-and-mix range of things to do – from singing to writing manifestos,’ said Alex Green, Head of Let’s Go Zero. ‘You can take part as a whole school, or do the activities as a class, eco-club, or individual student. catering teams, caretakers and other staff can also help their school get involved.
‘And we’d love home schoolers to join us too. By doing these fun and engaging activities, schools can take the first steps on their journey to being zero carbon,’ he contined. ‘We know that the Countdown will inspire even more schools to be part of the growing Let’s Go Zero campaign, working to help all UK schools be zero carbon by 2030.’
A range of resources have been created to help teachers and support staff with their own Climate Action Countdown. This included ‘eco-anxiety’ guidance on how to talk about climate change and make students feel more confident and empowered about their future, without watering down the facts. Activity packs, music video files, posters, quizzes, worksheets, a daily ‘inspiration calendar’ and more are all available for free here.
‘The Climate Action Countdown is an outstanding opportunity for our school communities to come together and show leadership in the fight to reduce carbon emissions and act positively on the government’s climate change strategy for education,’ said Lee Hughes, Chief Operating Officer from Peterborough Diocese Education Trust.
‘As a Multi Academy Trust of 33 Church of England primary schools, we aspire to act now, engaging our staff, children and communities to make sustainable changes,’ he continued. ‘No action is too small, and we want to encourage our schools to embrace the climate challenge and show that positive steps can be taken, even with really old estates! We will be asking our schools to join together this summer and working with our partners, the Let’s Go Zero coalition, to engage with the Climate Action Countdown.’
More on climate change and net zero:
The UK environment deserves better than the Conservative manifesto
Chartered Institute for Environmental Health launches general election campaign
Image: Mark Chilvers and The Climate Coalition