We’ve taken the Let’s Go Zero pledge, declaring our aim to become zero carbon by 2030!
The UK is hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
To mark the start of COP26, all Academies within Waterton Academy Trust are too taking action in the fight against Climate Change.
We’ve taken the Let’s Go Zero pledge, declaring our aim to become zero carbon by 2030. We’re joining schools across the UK in this national campaign to show the overwhelming support for zero carbon schools, and inviting government and local councils to work with us to reach this goal.
We know that schools can be the trailblazers for their community, responding to young people’s calls for action. In fact, they can inspire whole communities to tackle the climate crisis. In the coming pivotal ‘climate decade,’ we will be part of Let’s Go Zero’s national network of schools and sustainability organisations, sharing information about how to reach zero carbon, and working with local councils and government to make it happen.
We aim to commit to cut carbon in a number of key areas, which may include:
- Becoming ‘paperless’ Academies in regards to communication methods.
- Introducing new ways of recycling within each Academy.
- In conjunction with our Central Estates Team, reviewing the efficiency of Academy heating systems, planting more trees and installing LED lighting, as some examples.
- Educating each school community regarding sustainable living e.g. turning classroom lights off when not in use, turning Interactive Smart Screens off when not in use, reusing and recycling school resources which may have ordinarily gone in the bin etc.
In conjunction with our Trust Children’s Parliament, a working party of colleagues will also look to develop a curriculum offer relating to climate change and sustainability; each school will then look to work on these strategies via their Eco Councils, School Councils or Junior Leadership Teams.
By joining the Let’s Go Zero campaign and committing to becoming a zero-carbon Academy Trust, we’re taking a positive step on a local level to help combat the climate issues we all face globally. It sends a strong message to our whole Trust community that together we can safeguard our planet for future generations.
Find out more about the Let’s Go Zero campaign here: https://letsgozero.org/
Kind regards,
Waterton Academy Trust Central Team & Waterton Academy Trust Headteachers
November 2021