Climate Action for Schools
The Church of England and the UK Government have both recognised that there is a climate emergency and have separately made a commitment to climate action.
There are approx. 4,700 Church of England Schools in the country which are estimated to collectively contribute 52% of total carbon emissions (by building type) for the whole Church of England. Schools are therefore integral to both the Church of England’s and UK Government’s vision and strategy for climate action.
UK Government (Department for Education), Sustainability and Climate Change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems
The Government’s vision is for the UK to have a world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.
In England, it aims to achieve this through the following strategic aims:
1.Excellence in education and skills for a changing world: preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience
2.Net zero: reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically in the transition to net zero.
3.Resilience to climate change: adapting our education and care buildings and system to prepare for the effects of climate change.
4.A better environment for future generations: enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and increasing access to, and connection with, nature in and around education and care settings.
A key initiative of this strategy is developing sustainability leadership and the development of climate action plans and so the Department for Education is expecting all education settings (and this includes early years settings, schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges, and universities) to have a Climate Action Plan and a sustainability lead in place by 2025.
Church of England: Net Zero Carbon 2030
In 2020, General Synod of the Church of England formally recognised that the global climate emergency is a crisis for God’s creation and a fundamental injustice, and in response it committed the whole of the Church of England to achieve net zero carbon by 2030 and with the development of a routemap setting out how to get there. This has been further developed for church schools and academy trusts with the publishing of a routemap for schools
Diocese of Exeter: Climate Action Policy and Plan
The Diocese of Exeter formally adopted the Church of England’s routemap to NetZero Carbon by 2030 in March 2023 and issued the Diocesan Environmental Policy in March 2024 and the Exeter Diocesan Board of Education (EDBE) formalised its EDBE Climate Action Policy and is associated EBDE Climate Action Plan in June 2024.
The EBDE Climate Action Plan was developed and structured to support church schools and Academy Trusts as they prepare to develop their own School Climate Action Plans and leadership structures by 2025 as expected by the Department of Education read here .
Exeter Diocesan Board of Education is working closely with the Local Authorities and with Devon Association of Governance to ensure that there is a coordinated and consistent approach and messaging to schools when putting in place guidance and support for schools as they develop their leadership structure and Climate Action Plans by 2025 to meet the DfE’s expectations.
