Global Passport

Stamp 7, Respectful Relationships: Part 5.

Environmental Impact

A healthy environment is the foundation for Sustainable Development. Schools are encouraged to take concrete actions to reduce their environmental impacts. Students are encouraged to participate in curricular-based learning, which places environmental impact in the context of global citizenship. Action is key – with both learners and the wider community committing and taking action to improve the environment.

Resources

Specialist Organisations

Greenschools and ECO-UNESCO can provide workshops and facilitate a structured approach for students to engage in environmental sustainability issues and can support teachers and students to undertake practical activities within the school.

Greenschools now offer a Global Citizenship flag. This is the sixth theme, which enables schools to revise their previous flags exploring it within the Global context. Please see their website and contact them for more details.

Practical School Examples:

Here are some examples from the applications of Global Passport Awardees. These provide some great examples for what your school can do in this school category:

Ballymakenny College, Louth

“School is new and meets energy requirements. Harvested rainwater is used for the toilets and students are aware of this. Students will look at sustainable technology in Geography lessons with a small-scale project being conducted on Green Energy. The school building has many new technologies used to conserve energy. Geography and technology students will work on this project”.  Diplomatic Global Passport Award Winner 2016

Corran College, Sligo

“The school has achieved 5th Green flag for biodiversity and is currently working on 6th flag for global citizenship. This year’s work involves planting flower seeds for butterflies and bees (a continuation of last years biodiversity) and vegetable seeds obtained from Klaus Lattinbeigner.  Klaus’s seeds are suitable for Sligo/Leitrim soils and this will reduce carbon footprint of imported fruit and veg.”  Global Citizen’s Passport Award Winner 2015

St. Oliver’s Post Primary, Meath

“Green Schools project has actively worked to increase recycling in our school. Conserve energy through reminders to turn off computers and lights. There is a green school committee in our school made up of student and staff representatives. Staff have a limit of photocopying to cut down on wasting paper. The installation of our global garden has aimed at increasing awareness of the threat from climate change.” Citizens Global Passport Award Winner 2015

St Louis Secondary School, Carrickmacross

Last year we began water harvesting for our vegetable garden, we began a small garden that we hope to expand, we took part in junk couture, more recycling facilities, changed from twisty taps to pump taps, the school lighting system was changed over a 3 year period, we are now hoping to get more drinking fountains and reduce the amount of bottled water sold and encourage all students to buy from the mini company reusable drinking bottles” Diplomatic Global Passport Award Winner 2015