Website – UKSSN Operations Group
LinkedIn – (3) UK Schools Sustainability Network Operations Group
The biggest barrier to widespread change is not inaction; it is the action of maintaining business-as-usual. It is the action of habits and long-established practices. For many of us, the idea of change creates anxiety and feels unsafe. We resist, preferring to stay in our comfort zone.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Recognising change is difficult is an important aspect of Climate Action. As we transition to new ways of working that protect our Earth, I would encourage you to consider:
- Is your environment as supportive as it can be?
- Are people being recognised and rewarded for their efforts?
- When change is at a peak are you talking about it enough, together as a team?
One recommendation we have is Thoughtbox, experts in developing environments where people feel safe and able to take part. Have a look at their Foundations programme, a community of practice to support self-care, people-care, and Earth-care in schools.
⛈️ Adaptation and Recovery ⛈️
Storm Darragh showed me how unprepared my family – and Britain – are for disaster | Gaby Hinsliff | The Guardian
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle: “The UK’s highly variable weather means we’ve seen exceptionally warm conditions in Scotland, virtually no sunshine for half a month, as well as lying snow in Exeter and severe flooding during Autumn 2024. All of this illustrates the huge variability in the UK’s climate, and this is consistent with the ongoing pattern which is emerging as our climate continues to change.”
School communities are increasingly exposed to more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns – heat, flooding, winds – and the associated risks. A critical aspect of a school Climate Action Plan is preparation and adaptation to more extreme weather and ensuring there is a robust and tested recovery plan in place to manage through the immediate aftermath. A few resources that may be of help –
- Climate Adaptation Plan – Develop a climate adaptation plan
- Emergency Planning and Response – Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings – GOV.UK
- Learning through Landscapes – Climate Ready School Grounds – Learning through Landscapes
- Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) – Sustainable drainage systems for schools – environmentally friendly flood prevention – Buying for Schools
⚡Energy: Holiday switch-off ⚡
Winter switch off | Energy Sparks
For most schools, the festive break is an opportunity for a comprehensive switch off for all but essential equipment (e.g. frost protection). Energy Sparks has plenty of advice and support for schools looking to reduce energy demand. Save carbon and save the budget (and don’t forget to celebrate the impact in the new year).
🎓 CPD: Climate Science 🎓
Teach With – Climate Crisis | Teach with GIS UK
I am always on the lookout for useful tools and resources to upskill colleagues on the climate crisis. ESRI UK is an especially useful place to start with links to verified data sources for local, regional, and national analysis. The data can also help in planning adaptation and resilience measures. The site is definitely worth a few minutes of your time 🙂.
🎁 Procurement: Gifts and Rewards 🎁
On the ethical hierarchy of gifting | Guide to the Good
We held our regular Trust Climate Taskforce meeting earlier this week. One topic of discussion was gifts and rewards (not surprising given the time of the year). Whereas in the past we would be looking to buy material goods, it was great discussing what gifts and rewards should look like in future. Experiences, events, planet-friendly chocolate…lots of choice that does not need to cost the Earth.
💚 More of this –
We also talk about the type of suppliers we would like to buy from. We want to support businesses who align with our values. A good example – a local business, launched by a young entrepreneur, focussed on health and outdoors, and tries to weave sustainability into everything it does – Vision Fitness Co
😠Less of this –
Coca-Cola is dramatically scaling back its plastic promises | CNN Business
Coca-Cola was named as the world’s top plastic polluter for the sixth-consecutive year in 2023. It recently announced a weakening of its environmental goals.
Finding businesses that fully align to the ethos of a school or Trust can be a challenge, but it is vital if we want to achieve our sustainability and social value ambition.
📅 CPD: Sustainability Events 📅
It is great to see an increase in regional and national events to support schools and Trusts, with Berkshire the most recent addition to the list. We promote events on the website, here are just a few:
- Climate and Nature Action Event in Cambridgeshire (3rd February 2025)
- East of England Sustainability in Education Series in Bedfordshire (12th February 2025), Essex (26th March 2025) and Suffolk (2nd Apil 2025)
- ASCL Annual Sustainability Conference, Manchester – 5th June 2025 (ASCL – ASCL Sustainability Conference 2025)
PLUS – we have our next online UKSSN Ops Group network meeting on 16th January 2025 at 16.00 where we will be focusing on IT. The link to register is on the website.
PLUS – School Resource Management training (by Entrust) on ‘A Sustainable Estate and Climate Action Plans‘ running from December 2024 and into the new year.
PLUS – a free webinar by Edie on environmental sustainability in education (19th December 2024 at 11am). The webinar is targeted at Higher Education but includes aspects of making a campus more sustainable, engagement of students, and identifying first steps on a roadmap.
If you need more in-person training and support contact your regional Let’s Go Zero Climate Advisor, a free service to support all schools to reach net zero – Climate Action Advisors – Lets Go Zero.
If you are planning an event let us know and we will share with colleagues in the network.
🌳Careers: Sustainability, Climate & Nature🌳
Roles in sustainability are growing at a faster rate than the majority of other industries. All schools and Trusts need a Sustainability Lead in 2025, a role that simply didn’t exist until very recently. Several Trusts have since appointed full-time sustainability officers to support their transition. In keeping with our ambition to support the ‘rewiring’ of our sector, we are very happy to promote sustainability roles in education when they become available.
- Data Analyst role based at the Natural History Museum working in particular on the National Education Nature Park. Closing date for applications is 2nd January 2025: https://jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=367
More news from the Nature Park team here: Science update: December 2024 | Education Nature Park
If you are advertising roles in sustainability that you would like us to promote, send us the details and we will add them to our newsletters and website.
And finally…..a story of hope
World’s oldest-known wild bird lays egg on Midway Atoll at age 74 | Hawaii | The Guardian
In 1956, U.S. researchers on the remote Midway Atoll placed a tracking band on a young female Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), who has since acquired the name of ‘Wisdom’. Now, at an estimated 74 years old, Wisdom is the oldest known wild bird on Earth. She has laid 50 to 60 eggs, up to 30 of which produced chicks that lived to fledge. Now, in December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that Wisdom has recently laid an egg on Midway Atoll, her first in four years and possibly her 60th overall, with a new mate!
Over her long life, Wisdom has survived the giant 2011 tsunami, successfully navigated the rise of global warming and plastic debris, contributed to her species’ ongoing recovery, and is estimated to have flown over 3 million miles — enough to go from the Earth to the Moon and back six times! Extraordinary.
Pessimism is important in climate action – it asks, “what if we fail?” and “what if we are wrong?” – questions that involve grappling with the uncertainties of our green transition. We need to balance those questions with optimism and hope for a better future.
Have a great weekend 💚.