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WHAT IS AN EARTH PROTECTOR SCHOOL?

Earth Protector Schools play an integral, vital part in the educational aspect of Earth Protector Communities. This global collaborative movement of schools, colleges and universities sets out to protect the Earth, using an interactive process including specific goals and guidelines.

In declaring itself an Earth Protector School, a school undertakes to collaborate and cooperate with staff, students and parents; other schools and educational establishments; local communities and other relevant organisations to protect land, wildlife, soil and water.

An Earth Protector School puts at the heart of its educational practice the emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of young people and staff, in recognition that wellbeing is intrinsically connected to planetary health and thriving local ecosystems. The educational institute is also publicly supporting the Stop Ecocide campaign which supports the legal and diplomatic work to make Ecocide an international crime.

Towns, business, campaign group, educational institution, organisation or NGO can endorse the Stop Ecocide campaign by registering here: www.stopecocide.earth/join-as-an-organisation

HOW IS THE EARTH PROTECTOR SCHOOL DIFFERENT?

An EP school is moving into the understanding that we are all part of the interdependent web of life. At this critical planetary moment, we are tasked with the response-ability to care for each other and for all life forms. The EP school seeks out opportunities for adults and young people to engage in the challenges we face collectively. Safeguarding mental and emotional wellbeing is prioritised through frequent opportunities for time and immersion in Nature. Restoring our connection with the natural world – with the understanding that we are Nature – leads us to learn and live in a healthier way. In practical terms an EP School comes from the principle “First Do No Harm”. Looking through such a lens at energy use, waste, catering, procurement and curriculum opens up a new standpoint: one of seeking to protect, to regenerate what has been lost or neglected, to devise projects where imagination and creativity can flourish. Student initiative and self-empowerment is encouraged so that confident exploring, monitoring and research can map the school’s impact in all these areas.

WHAT DOES MY SCHOOL HAVE TO DO TO BECOME AN EARTH PROTECTOR SCHOOL?

There are six goals for Earth Protector Schools:

Recognise that building emotional resilience is a key aspect of responding effectively to the climate crisis

Engage students and staff in moving beyond the concept of sustainability to the regenerative model

Find whole school strategies to this end with time specific goals in place (including a strategy and date to achieve a carbon zero future)

Protect and enhance eco-systems, habitats and species in and around the school

Pioneer the reduction and elimination of single use plastic

Explore and promote awareness of, and solutions to, climate and ecological emergencies

The school pledges that any future investment decisions consider the environmental practices of the institutions involved, as well as existing legal requirements on public investments.

These goals form a framework for a steering group to audit, plan and monitor the activities and projects which will help to protect and enhance the environment in and around the school.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

The pilot project is already underway, and the framework is evolving. Get in touch with us to register your interest.
The framework will launch on 22nd April 2020 and will be shared for schools across the world to use.

In the meantime, you could create a staff/student steering group for your school to look at what is currently being done and audit the activities of the school to see where any improvements can be made.

Has your school declared a climate emergency and committed to become carbon neutral by 2025?

Are there other things your school is doing that you’d like to tell us about?

EMAIL US
EPC SCHOOL INFORMATION LEAFLET
EPC EDUCATION DECLARATION
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