It’s an international initiative designed
to encourage whole-school action for the environment.
There are over 3,700 schools registered with the
Eco-Schools program in Scotland, which includes over 98% of Scotland's local
authority schools, as well as independent and early year’s establishments. Over
40% of our local authority schools have attained the highest award level: the
Green Flag.
"The
Eco-Schools program engages children and young people in key issues including
the environment, sustainability, global citizenship and the value of a low
carbon future. The growing numbers of Eco-Schools in Scotland is inspiring and
that are reducing right now the carbon footprint of your school, home and
community."
This campaign involves ten important subjects of the eco-schools program.
Litter is a very visible problem. However, by carrying out regular
litter surveys and making sure grounds are litter-free, both pupils and the
local community will quickly notice improvements in the school's appearance and
image.
ENERGY
Energy use is a world-wide concern. Everyone, including school
communities, has an important role to play in increasing awareness of energy
issues and improving energy efficiency.
HEALTH
Schools have a crucial role to play in promoting the health of young
people. Good health at an early age not only helps to avoid future health
problems such as obesity and heart disease: it can also improve pupils' ability
to learn.
TRANSPORT
The transport issue directly affects schools and pupils; not just in
terms of the environmental impact of the school run, but also in terms of road
safety and pupils' health and fitness.
FOOD
The need for food is the one thing that unites Planet
Earth; regardless of race, culture, religion- or species.
Everyone, including school communities, has an
important role to find sustainable solutions to its production and consumption.
By encouraging young people to understand where their
food comes from and getting them excited about cooking with locally sourced
ingredients at home, Eco Schools Scotland is helping to lay the foundations for
a healthier future.
RECYCLING
Monitoring the amount of rubbish a school creates, can be a very
rewarding topic. As well as encouraging the school community to consider the
wider impact of their buying habits, this topic will give pupils a chance to
discover the hidden
value of some types of waste.
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity provides the very foundation of Planet Earth's life
support. Schools can play a crucial role in promoting and improving the
biological potential of their local area.
SCHOOL GROUNDS
Research has shown that the design and management of school grounds can
have a significant impact on pupils’ attitudes and behaviour towards school,
each other and the wider environment and society. Involving pupils in the
design and creation of inspiring and interesting grounds will allow pupils to
acquire a range
of knowledge and skills.
WATER
Water comes out of
taps, it goes down drains and in between, we use it to brush our teeth or do
the dishes.
With a little imagination, however, water can become a fascinating topic for pupils. The Eco-Schools program aims to help pupils understand what water really means to people and to the planet - and to discover the true cost of water use at school and at home.
SUSTAINING OUR WORLD
Eco-Schools is an international initiative and the need for global solutions
to the environmental issues that face us has never been more urgent.
Our young people are part of a global society and have the right to engage in discussion and debate about topical issues that will affect their lives. As global citizens, they need the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to understand issues such as rights and responsibilities, fairness, and the role of citizens in a democratic society.
By Patricia
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