Leeds school first in county to declare climate change emergency

As part of the move, Roundhay School, in the north of the city, is working towards becoming carbon neutral in an effort to show students how they can play a part in averting the crisis.

Teacher Matthew Carmichael, who has spearheaded the project, said: “Many schools have recently looked to creative ways to tackle issues surrounding climate change, from adapting the school curriculum to holding sustainability-themed drop-down days.

“However, if pupils see that the car park is still full, if classrooms are continually overheated, if material resources are obviously being wasted and electricity is being derived from fossil fuels, it does little to allay their fears.

“They want to see real action and our decision to declare a climate emergency comes alongside the introduction of meat-free Mondays and the launch of an Eco Club which is looking at how we can de-carbonise our electricity supply and improve the school’s gas consumption.”

With concerns over climate anxiety growing, Mr Carmichael also spends three days a week working on a voluntary basis with Leeds Climate Commission (LCC), which is now calling on the Department for Education to provide a detailed blueprint for how schools should approach the issue.

In Italy, students are required to study climate change for 33 hours a year and it will also soon be on the curriculum in all New Zealand schools. However, since the UK Government declared a climate emergency in May last year, there has been no official guidance as to how schools should tackle the subject.

Mr Carmichael added: “Many young people read a huge amount about climate change, but the problem is that the sources they use to educate themselves may not be reliable.

“Students who are worried about their future are vulnerable to what is called ‘climate porn’, which is alarmist, exaggerated or selective, pseudo-scientific clickbait that feeds on fear. We need to find a way to combat that.”

The LCC offers practical support on a host of issues from securing funding for the installation of solar panels to advice on setting school policy for students wanting to take part in environmental protests in term time.

It says that schools which are most successful in addressing climate change issues are ones that actively involve students in key decisions.

One Roundhay School pupil, who is now an eco-ambassador, said: “It’s really important that our generation is made aware of the crisis, as it’s our future as well as our children’s and grandchildren’s lives that will be most affected. We also need to make the Government realise how much we care and worry. It’s our planet and we need to look after it.

“We know the Government is trying to reduce carbon emissions, but not enough is being done quickly enough. The ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising, and people affected by fire and flood need help. We humans created climate change, and now we need to protect the planet from further damage before it’s too late.

“One of the things I’m eager for the school to do is to install solar panels, and I hope other schools will also do it.”