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The young people of Wales will face the ongoing and increasing impacts from climate change throughout their lives. This can bring stress, anxiety, and negative effects on mental well-being. Initiatives across Wales support young people to take action to respond to the climate crisis, and the Office of the Future Generations is providing platforms to ensure young people are supported and their voices heard across Wales.
CASE STUDY: Eco-Schools
In Wales, the Eco-Schools programme helps children and young people take action against climate change.
Eco-Schools is a unique programme that places pupil driven environmental change at its heart.
Since the inception of Eco-Schools over 25 years ago, the programme has gone from strength to strength and the positive impact that it has on pupils, school environments, and whole communities has grown year on year. Giving pupils of all ages a platform to come together to identify environmental improvements, formulate a plan, and see the fruition of their concepts is incredibly empowering. Facilitating change-makers who leave school knowing that their voices and ideas can and do make a difference cannot be underestimated. Schools are increasingly utilising the Eco-Schools programme to deliver aspects of the Curriculum for Wales, in order to develop the Ethical Informed Citizens of Wales and the World that we hope all young people will become. The Eco-Schools process ensures that pupils have the opportunity to investigate, critically evaluate, and develop actions to improve their school and local environment. At the same time, they are learning about key issues that affect our local and global environment as well as how to make a positive difference and be a part of the solution. There are currently over 800 schools across Wales with the prestigious Eco-Schools green flag, and many more working towards the award. Furthermore, Eco-Schools is a global programme which currently runs in 70 countries around the World.
Taking part in the programme in Wales makes a school a part of the global family of 56,000 schools worldwide who are taking positive action to create a sustainable future.
