Currently, 52 schools have enrolled in the Green School Network, an initiative developed by ActForEaling and Ealing Council. This program supports schools in crafting their unique climate strategies aimed at curbing costly energy consumption and mitigating harmful pollution. Additionally, it encourages active involvement with young individuals to foster awareness about the environment.
Introduced last year, this network places climate action at the core of the daily school routine. It facilitates discussions among young individuals on environmental matters and aids schools in fulfilling their obligation, mandated by the Department for Education, to implement a climate action plan.
Using Keep Britain Tidy’s eco-schools programme, schools can identify actions to reduce their environmental impact, such as cutting down on food waste or phasing out single use plastic drinks bottles. After successfully completing the programme, they receive an eco-school green flag award.
Oaklands Primary School in Hanwell was one of the first schools to join the network when it launched.
The network put them in touch with Oak Garden, a community interest company (CIC) working to improve sustainability in schools, who installed an energy sensor that provides data-based advice on how the school can adopt more energy efficient practices. The school reduced its carbon footprint, and aims to save around £400 a month in energy costs thanks to the Oak project report.
Tanisha Muqtada, year 3 teacher and the school’s sustainability leader, said: “The green school network gives you a lot of support and offers real solutions you can act on. It ensures that tackling sustainability is not just seen as a box ticking exercise but as something meaningful.”
Email Nicole on McGregorN@ealing.gov.uk to sign up to the green school network.
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: “We all have a role to play in tackling the climate crisis, and as a council we are committed to supporting our schools to save energy, reduce harmful emissions from car travel and idling, and get involved in local food growing. It’s great to see so many Ealing school communities working hard to reduce their environmental impact and become carbon neutral.”
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, cabinet member for a fairer start, said: “We know that many young people are passionate about tackling climate change. This is an amazing opportunity to empower our young people, by bringing them into the conversation and supporting them in taking action.”
If you would like to find out more about the Green School Network contact us at ActForEaling here. We also have a schools sustainability pack here.
This article first appeared in About Ealing here.
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