TAKE ACTION
Most children think adults aren’t doing enough to address climate change. Carol Rogerson explores how PTAs can help schools reduce carbon emissions, promote environmental conservation and encourage eco-friendly practices
Protect our playground
T
he climate crisis is a pressing issue for all parents. Safeguarding our children’s future means
assessing our impact on the planet and taking measures to minimise it. In her book Parenting on Earth
(MIT Press, 2023), philosopher and mum Elizabeth Cripps argues that to do right by our children, parents must take action to address the issues caused by climate change that threaten our children’s health, livelihoods and human rights. Families can adopt eco-friendly
practices at home, such as reducing our meat consumption, minimising driving and flying, and being mindful of purchases. But what action can parents take to help their schools go greener? A single voice may go unheard, but a group of
parents can wield greater influence. By uniting parents to rally behind environmental causes, PTAs can play a crucial role in sparking positive behaviour change.
Schools under pressure Schools are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions and the Department for Education has highlighted the urgent need to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint. The government’s 2022 sustainability strategy identified several key focus areas, including reducing emissions from education buildings, providing climate education and opportunities for students to participate in the transition to net zero,
enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and increasing access to nature on school sites. To this end, school leaders are
under increasing pressure to take action against climate change, but teachers often face a lack of support and resources for environmental projects they want to run.
READ
the government’s schools’ sustainability and climate change policy paper: tinyurl. com/3b7u7ta6
Start a conversation The busy headteacher is not necessarily the best person for the PTA to approach. Many schools already have a designated sustainability lead (the government has mandated that by 2025, every school must have one), so seek out this person and open up a dialogue. Let them know that the PTA is willing to support
14 SPRING 2024
pta.co.uk
IMAGE: DIGITALMAZDOOR DIGITALMAZDOOR
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