EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - 100.000 young people in UK take part in national Green Day

100.000 young people in UK take part in national Green Day

Introduction

More than 100,000 young people across the United Kingdom took part in Green Day, Britain’s biggest day of action on climate change and the built environment, organised by CABE, the UK government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. Green Day is a fun way for children and young people to learn about how we can tackle climate change. More than 400 schools were involved, across Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Problem

By 2020, the UK government wants schools to be models of energy efficiency, renewable energy use and water management, with a culture of sustainable development embedded into all areas of school life.

Description

Green Day, organised by CABE is an annual event for young people. It is an activity packed day about climate change and the built environment. It aims to make schools more sustainable and all of us more environmentally aware through whole school activities and cross-curricular learning.

A typical Green Day could see pupils wearing an item of green clothing to school - a journey they make on foot or bike - and taking part in a debate on whose role it is to deal with global warming. In ICT, they could create podcasts on how their city could reduce its energy use. In science, more senior pupils might make their own bio diesel, and in art create a sculpture from recycled materials.

Involving pupils across every year group in primary and secondary schools, Green Day is an opportunity not only explore environmental issues through the curriculum but also give schools the opportunity to cut energy use and make their own building design more sustainable, for instance by installing smart meters.

Target group

Schools in the United Kigndom

Contact info

CABE
1 Kemble Street
WC2B 4AN London
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7070 6700
Fax: +44 (0)20 7070 6777
info@cabe.org.uk
Laura Broderick, tel. +44 (0)20 7070 6804

Project start date

//2009

Links

For more information about the Green Day, please visit CABE's website

Download the Green Day activity kit for schools (PDF, Eng, 365 kB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Environmental sustainability