Schools, colleges and academies play a vital part in creating the environmental stewards of tomorrow. But educational facilities are not only responsible for informing the attitudes and behaviours of their students; they also have a more practical role to play.

Schools are significant energy consumers, accounting for around 25% of total public sector energy use in the UK. Those energy requirements eat into dwindling budgets and take their toll on the environment. You can counteract that by creating a more environmentally sustainable school estate, and the first step in that process is to produce a climate action plan.

Whether this is the first time you are hearing about school climate action plans, or you are ready to create one for your institution, our guide is here to help. Continue reading to learn more.

What are education climate action plans?

An education climate action plan is a document that details the steps and strategies schools can take to commence and progress their sustainability initiatives. It will usually include targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, details of the steps you intend to take to get there and methods for tracking those targets.

Given the budgetary constraints many educational facilities face, plans typically focus on achieving sustainability goals in the most cost-effective way.

What can schools do to help with climate change?

Whether you are preparing a climate action plan for a primary or secondary school, college, or university, here are some of the main ways to improve sustainability:

• Reduce waste by implementing recycling programs, going paperless, composting food waste and encouraging reusable materials like water bottles or lunch containers
• Save energy by switching to LED lighting, utilising smart thermostats or investing in solar panels
• Make transportation more efficient by promoting walking and biking, introducing carpooling programs or making buses fully electric
• Conserve water by installing low-flow toilets and fixing leaks promptly

Why do I need a school climate action plan?

All educational settings in the UK are required to have a school climate action plan in place by 2025. That includes schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts and universities. It is part of the UK’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which aims for all schools to be carbon-zero by 2030.

Beyond your legal obligation to create a school climate action plan, it will also help you take a proactive approach to sustainability initiatives that are often pushed down the priority list. They can also be beneficial when applying for funding and help you create projects and initiatives that support your students’ climate education.

What should I include in a climate action plan for schools?

According to the Department for Education (DfE), school climate action plans should focus on four core areas:

• Decarbonisation – The steps you will take to reduce your carbon emissions
• Adaptation and resilience – The strategies you’ll implement to reduce and adapt to the risks posed by climate change
• Biodiversity – The outdoor projects you will engage with
• Climate education – How you will educate students about climate change and support teachers

How can I create a school climate action plan?

Here is an example of the practical steps you can take to create a climate action plan that’s tailored to your school’s sustainability needs, resources and challenges:

1. Assess your current usage

Conduct an energy efficiency assessment to determine the most problematic areas and the changes that will have the biggest impact. Consider everything from your energy consumption to waste generation and water usage.

2. Set goals

Once you have your baseline data, you can set clear and measurable goals to help you reduce the environmental impact of your site. Your goals should be achievable in the short term and may include:

• Sending less waste to landfill
• Improving your green spaces
• Using more sustainable transportation
• Reducing your energy consumption

3. Determine your strategy

The next step is to outline your strategy for achieving your goals. Those measures can be varied and may include:

• Improving your resource efficiency by upgrading to LED lighting, installing movement sensors, using energy-efficient appliances and updating your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Switching to cleaner energy by installing your own energy-generating devices, such as solar panels, or choosing a green energy supplier.
• Creating effective waste management practices, reducing the use of single-use plastics and engaging in initiatives to encourage recycling.
• Encouraging staff and students to choose more sustainable transport options, such as walking, cycling or getting public transport to school.
• Creating and maintaining green spaces on school grounds and improving biodiversity on your estate.

4. Consider your budget

Think carefully about how much you can spend and always frame it against the potential savings. Working with a specialist team of advisers like Eddisons Education can help you access expertise and funding for your initiatives.

5. Engage the community

Create community and business partnerships and collaborate with environmental organisations to access resources and produce lasting change.

6. Monitor your progress

Monitor your progress regularly and use data to determine the effectiveness of each strategy. Based on that data, you may need to adjust your approach to achieve your goals.

7. Engage your students

You can engage students by organising workshops and events, and forming student-led environment clubs and committees. You can also integrate climate change into the curriculum to educate them about the science and the importance of sustainability practices.

Create an action plan for climate change at your primary or secondary school with us

At Eddisons Education, we provide expert property and sustainability advice to clients across the UK. Our nationwide team of RICS-certified surveyors can help you create and implement highly effective school climate action plans that fit your budget.

We can also identify appropriate funding streams and support you in the application process. Read more about school decarbonisation strategies and get in touch for a free consultation to discuss your needs.