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VIEWS & OPINION
The Million Tree Jubilee - how schools are fighting climate change
Comment by CHARLI ADAMSON, Founding Member of the Million Tree Pledge
Schools across the UK are being invited to join an ambitious tree planting challenge to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, whilst taking radical action against the climate emergency. Through the Million Tree Jubilee campaign, schools will collectively work together to plant 1 million trees throughout the Jubilee year. The collaboration between the Million Tree Pledge, One Britain One Nation and Ecologi gives every child the opportunity to take climate action, leaving a lasting legacy from this special year for the next generation.
The power of collective action within the wider education community The Million Tree Pledge community, initially consisting of 32 SMEs, planted over 5 million trees between April and December 2021 through Ecologi, the UK’s leading climate action platform. This was more than the British Government managed to plant in the same time frame. The movement has continued to gain momentum, with the group planting an additional 1.1 million this year and pledging to plant a further 41 million. Ecologi’s wider community, which includes over 14,000 businesses, mostly SMEs, has funded the planting of over 43.3 million trees and 1.9 million tonnes of carbon have been offset through the platform. With St Dominic’s and Birdham CE leading the way, the aim is to
inspire other schools to adopt similar ambitions and step up to play their role in the cause. Given that the younger generation are already so engaged with the climate emergency, schools have the power to harness this enthusiasm and channel the energy into initiatives such as the Million Tree Jubilee, that result in real climate action. These initiatives can also help support schools’ internal sustainability strategies and demonstrate their commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.
The importance of teaching students how to protect the environment Earlier this year, Student’s Organising for Sustainability (SOS) demonstrated that the education system is markedly receptive to welcoming a heavier focus on this area. Their SDG Teach In 2022 Campaign influenced 722 educators from 134 institutions to commit to cementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of their curriculum. Goal number 15 is centred around developing sustainable ecosystems and forest areas - helping to reverse land degradation and halt the demise of wildlife specimens. The UK’s Education Secretary also upped the onus on the education system during COP26, outlining plans to deliver “world-
leading” climate change education in a policy paper titled: Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems. Not only will the Million Tree Jubilee initiative enable schools to
take action alongside SMEs, but it will further encourage this integrated focus on reforestation within their curriculum. Educating students on the importance of habitat restoration, biodiversity, soil stabilisation and environmental industry for local communities should be at the forefront of any teaching modules concerning the climate. By improving the quality and depth of knowledge they supply, and offering opportunities to proactively the environmental welfare of global communities, schools can develop a generation that is more conscious and more assertive than those gone by.
How schools can take effective climate action and get involved in the Million Tree Jubilee Many schools recently commemorated the Queen’s Jubilee year by supporting the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative by planting a native tree in their school grounds. The Million Tree Jubilee initiative encourages them to take this a step further by organising fundraising opportunities such as non-uniform days, sponsored events and house-point rewards to raise the £240 that will fund the planting of 1000 native and diverse trees in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Kenya and Uganda. The planting is carried out by Ecologi’s carefully chosen partners, such as Eden Reforestation Projects who have an ‘employee to plant’ methodology. The trees planted will provide food, shelter and shade for local wildlife; purify air and water sources; contribute natural products to local commerce and also aid prevention of natural disasters in coastal locations. Participation in this pledge can also serve as a prompt for schools to
reassess and renew their energy-saving protocols to ensure they are aligned with their new commitment. It’s long been understood that small changes in a collective establishment can go a long way. For example, if they aren’t already using eco-friendly lightbulbs, they should install them in every classroom, making sure they are turned off when not in use. Computers should also be shutdown where possible and the average temperature of the central heating system lowered by a few degrees.
Critical to the future of our planet The collective responsibility of global society to reverse environmental decline has become non-negotiable. The next decade will prove critical to the future of our planet. This is an opportunity for schools to stand up and be counted in a small way - but one that will have great cumulative effect when combined amongst others. Any momentum generated should be sustained within each school, inspiring them to think of other ways that they can revitalise local environments. Students should embrace this opportunity to take on more responsibility and pass on the sentiment to their families at home. As Flynn, a 9-year-old student from St. Dominic’s, puts it: “not only is building forests helping communities, but it is also making you feel that you have done a good thing for the environment. Hopefully we don’t destroy it but save it.”
To get involved, please go to
https://www.milliontreepledge.org/
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www.education-today.co.uk
July/August 2022
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