Climate Sustainability
Under the government’s sustainability and climate change strategy for education all education settings should have a nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan”. This includes early years settings, schools, and multi-academy trusts.
By ensuring there is clear leadership for sustainability and a climate action plan in place early years leaders can increase the confidence and expertise of staff, children and families in understanding climate change and how positive change can be achieved.
Three Pillars of Climate Sustainability
The three pillars of climate sustainability guide sustainable development and influence our global sustainability goals:
- Environmental sustainability involves managing and educating children about looking after resources; recycling and reducing CO2 , waste and pollution.
- Social sustainability focuses on equity and empowering all children to be active participants in their communities and local environments.
- Economic sustainability is about balancing business with environmental considerations and educating children about sustainable trade.
There is lots of help and guidance available to help early years settings create a climate sustainability plan and there is probably lots that settings are doing already to support climate sustainability that can be included in the setting’s plan.
Climate Sustainability and the EYFS
There will be lots that settings and schools are doing already within the EYFS that supports sustainability. Starting with what a setting does well already will help to celebrate successes and provide direction for what else could be achieved.
Siren Films – Laura Henry-Allain talks about early years sustainability practice
Siren Films – How do you engage children with recycling and caring for each other and the environment?
Resources to support Climate Sustainability Plans
The Department for Education funded Sustainability Group for Education, enables education settings to start or progress on their sustainability journey. There are online templates and suggested actions paired with quality-assured resources which can be filtered so you only see suggestions that are relevant to your setting. Sustainability Support for Education
5-day email series designed by sustainability and education specialists.
Create your climate action plan
With 1 clear step each day to help you identify your priorities and build your climate action plan. This free email course gives you everything you need:
- feel confident about what a climate action plan is and why you need one
- identify the right actions for your setting
- pick some quick wins to build momentum
- get your colleagues and leadership on board
The National Education Nature Park programme empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature’s future with a range of resources and ideas for Early Years settings.
UNESCO Greening Curriculum Guidance for Early Years
The full guidance can be found here: Greening curriculum guidance: teaching and learning for climate action – UNESCO Digital Library
Early Years Sustainable Hub Early Years Sustainable Hub | ENSFC
Sowing Seeds for the Future:
This blog by Bristol’s EY specialist leader, Millie Colwey explores the importance of education for sustainability, practical steps you can take, and how our sector can lead the way to creating a greener, safer future for young children.
Short Films to support with staff training and development of plans (with thanks to Siren Films for permission to share).
Siren Films – Sustainability can start simply by engaging with families
Siren Films – Engaging children in sustainability begins with curiosity