Greensand Climate Action Plan (June 2024)
Executive Summary
Greensand Multi Academy Trust is a group of eight schools in the Southeast of England due to increase to ten schools in Autumn 2024. The schools are currently at varying places along their sustainability journey. The aim of this Climate Action Plan is to embed sustainability within all school strategies and learning, reduce our environment impact and safeguard nature, public health and future generations from the impact of climate change.
Climate Change Facts
- Temperatures will continue rise above 1.5 ºC and damage will be irreversible unless action is taken.
- With increased temperatures there will be more frequent and more extreme weather conditions such as fire, drought, flood.
- Climate and weather extremes are affecting more vulnerable communities through displacement, food insecurity and malnutrition.
It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change
- To stop global warming, we need to significantly reduce emission of greenhouse gases and achieve carbon dioxide neutrality (if not reverse).
- Safeguard biodiversity – increase and develop current natural spaces.
Legislation
The Greensand Climate Action Plan has been prepared to align and support UK government regulation and international obligations. Specifically,
- The Department of Education’s Strategy for Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
- UK’s 2050 net zero carbon target and de-carbonisation plan.
- The Climate Change Act 2008.
- The Environment Act 2021.
- The DEFRA Environmental Improvement Plan.
- The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate Action Plan: Four key Objectives
Objective 1: Decarbonisation
Objective 2: Climate Education, Green Skills & Careers
Objective 3: Adaptation & Resilience
Objective 4: Biodiversity
The Greensand Climate Action Plan (CAP) focuses on four main areas of development as recognised by the Department of Education’s Strategy for Sustainability and Climate Change; Decarbonisation, Climate Education, Green Skills and Careers, Adaptation and Resilience and Biodiversity. These objectives have also been aligned with Greensand Strategic Plan 2023-2026. The plan is spread over the next three years and will be reviewed and updated annually. It will develop with the collection and refinement of the baseline data identified and evolve with input from the Trust Sustainability Committee.
In order to ensure the success of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), a culture of sustainability needs to be established and embedded in everything that we do. The role of the Sustainability Leaders and Sustainability Committee, supported by the Sustainability and Procurement Manager (SPM) are paramount to achieving our ambitious CAP. Therefore, the first action will be to appoint Sustainability Leaders at school level and assemble a Sustainability Committee across the Trust with Governors, Staff and students. The Sustainability Committee will work collaboratively to shape the baseline data requirements needed to make and measure effective change. The SPM will work with the Sustainability Committee to design a clear communication strategy to ensure all stakeholders buy in with the CAP.
Ensuring success:
- Appoint School Sustainability Leaders.
- Set up Greensand Sustainability Committees.
- Collect data to provide a baseline.
- Design accessible, clear communication strategy.
Year 1 Key Sustainability Targets
