Schools have a special role to play in addressing and adapting to climate change as energy consumers and significant emitters of CO2. Schools in Zamość and Minsk Mazowiecki outlined their roadmaps to climate neutrality in a vision workshop during last school year, and today they are implementing selected measures to reduce their carbon footprint! It is important that they are not left to their own devices in these ambitious endeavours, as the transformation towards a climate-neutral future is not possible without the broad involvement of stakeholders - from individuals to companies to the national and global level.

By inviting parents of pupils, representatives of various institutions, companies and local communities, school representatives started a dialogue on the implementation of Climate Action Plans during a stakeholder workshop in April. The meetings were an opportunity to present the planned activities as well as to discuss the necessary and available resources, the most effective methods and ideas.

Primary School No. 5 from Minsk Mazowiecki teamed up with a local hardware shop. Their aim was to collect rainwater that they could use to water the school garden. The shop not only donated 4 rainwater tanks, but also offered the assistance of volunteers to help install them on the school grounds. As a result of this activity, the pupils have gained practical knowledge about the efficient use of water resources and the school garden is irrigated in a more sustainable and ecological way.

The Primary School No. 8 in Zamość joined the Biznes dla Klimatu (Business for Climate) Foundation's campaign entitled ‘’Patron Wody z Nieba‘’. The project's aim is to educate the youngest about the importance of water and to show real measures for saving it. Here, as well, thanks to support from the foundation, a rain barrel is to be set up next to the school building, which will be used to water the new plants in the school garden.

Furthermore, in order to encourage green mobility in the local community, the school organised a cycling campaign in which up to 63 pupils cycled to school every day for a whole month. After the end of the school year, the pupils shared their stories of their summer cycling trips, with the aim of not only promoting cycling and holidays on the move, but also exercising together with their families. The school is now planning a meeting with representatives from the local Police Station and the Traffic Centre to continue the cycling promotion and education campaign.

Through the above activities, schools have not only gained recognition in their communities, but have also established fruitful relationships with external partners, which gives them the opportunity to develop further pro-climate initiatives. Collaborations between schools and external institutions have the potential to not only teach young people to work together in climate action, but also to make a real impact on the local environment and promote actions for sustainable development.

This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).