Increasing green skills in education & making our colleges greener

DfE’s Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy (hereafter referred to as the DfE Strategy) sets out four strategic aims which the college has adopted as part of the Sustainability Steering Group Board’s Terms of Reference.  These are:

1. SA1 Excellence in education and skills for a changing world: preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience.
2. SA2 Net zero: reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically with the net zero concept.
3. SA3 Resilient to climate change: adapting to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change in our education and care buildings and infrastructure.
4. SA4 A better environment for future generations: enhancing biodiversity and increasing access to nature in and around education and care settings.

The DfE Strategy sets out the ‘challenge and opportunity’ that climate change presents with a particular focus on Education; Green skills & jobs; Learning from and connecting with nature;  and (adapting existing and designing new) Buildings.

The DfE Strategy – its strategic aims; and the challenges and opportunities are echoed in the AoC’s recent ‘Green College Commitment’ report which highlights three priority areas for colleges: 

• Delivering green skills and supporting green jobs;
• Educating students and communities to build a more sustainable future, and;
• Developing net zero campuses and building resilience to environmental change. 

These two reports provide a framework for policy and action.  It is our intention to develop policy and plan activity that reflect the priorities and strategic aims set out in both reports and to use these as guiding principles for the way we build momentum.