Climate Change Projects in Leeds as we mark the UN Climate Conference (COP27)
To mark the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Egypt from 6th -18th November 2022 we are delighted to share one primary schools journey of delivering climate education with their pupils over the last year.
Following last year’s launch of the Climate Action Route Map (CARM) for schools and settings distributed to all Leeds schools to coincide with the run up to last year’s COP26 (subsequently complemented by a summary ‘Plan on a Page’) to support school senior leaders and Chairs of Governors with providing high quality Climate education in schools Southroyd Primary School took the opportunity to further develop their provision.
With leadership support from the Headteacher and Deputy Head who regards this as such a significant area of learning that the school is focussing on it across the year they have used the route map as a basis for producing their very own Southroyd Climate Action Route Map (SCARM).
The school now has dedicated webpages outlining how they developed their SCARM as well as a comprehensive, dedicated Action Plan that describes a range of actions under a number of headings including for example ‘Widening participation’-aCOP assembly. In‘Curriculum Application’howthey will establish links across the science, geography and PSHE curricula and through their‘International Links’they are sharing concepts of COP as well as their thoughts and pledges during climate change week with Bachpan Primary their international partner school in Gujarat, India.
Since the introduction of the SCARM pupils at South Royd Primary School have;
- Explored, through School Council, the implications of climate change with the school catering team (meat free days) and met with the School Business Manager and Site Manager to discuss waste, recycling and energy costs
- Eco monitors have used posters and tweets to communicate the challenges we all face to inform staff and parents of good practices
- After school Eco-Club children have devised a routine for monitoring the school site
- regularly monitored school waste
- taken part in Greenpeace’s Big Plastic survey
If you are inspired by the great work happening at Southroyd Primary School have a closer look at what they have done.
Or, if during the week of COP 27, you have your own story of your schools journey delivering climate education in school we would really love to hear from you. Send your stories to: childfriendlyleeds@leeds.gov.uk.
Leeds By Example Resource
#LeedsByExample have fantastic resources, toolkit, guidance and opportunities to get involved in. As stated on their website ‘We can’t solve climate change on our own, but together we can make a huge difference. The food we eat, the way we travel and power our homes, the stuff we buy and the way we get rid of it all affects climate change. Living more sustainably is easier than you think —and it can also help us save money and live healthier lives. By making simple changes, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help make Leeds a carbon neutral city.’
Child Friendly Leeds Ambassadors & Leeds Youth Voice
Leeds City Council voted to declare a climate emergency in March 2019. Following this, the Leeds Youth Voice Summit 2020 saw 114 young people put forward their ideas for tackling the climate emergency and the action they wanted to see. The summit gave young people an opportunity to ask their questions to senior councillors, officers, and leading scientists.
The Child Friendly Leeds Team then hosted a webinar in 2021 where ambassadors, business partners and young people came together to discuss climate change and share what they are doing around this agenda. At the event, we updated attendees about the climate priorities of children and young people in Leeds and the work taking place in school; we explored ways organisations can take action and work together around this agenda; we also shared the council’s climate emergency plans (please see below) as well as sharing some opportunities for ambassadors to get involved in…
