With the Vision 2045 Project, we are pursuing the goal of accompanying schools on their way to climate neutrality. As energy consumers and major CO₂ emitters in municipalities, schools have a special role to play, being first and foremost the places where future generations are educated. Awareness-building and the implementation of concrete actions among the youngest, while involving adult stakeholders (headmasters, teachers, technical and administrative staff, parents and representatives of public transport, energy, waste management or nutrition sectors), will facilitate aiming for a climate-neutral city and the appropriate use of resources. Due to the holistic approach is taken to make schools the drivers and role models in reducing carbon. Through a holistic approach, it will be possible to make schools the drivers and role models in reducing their carbon footprint and engage them in reaching local climate & energy targets in collaboration with local authorities.

From Poland, two cities will take part in the project: Zamość and Minsk Mazowiecki, each involving two schools.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

The project provides integrated measures to support the cities' involvement towards climate neutrality through:

• Carrying out climate checks in schools and calculate the carbon footprint of school buildings using a dedicated calculator,
• Realisation of a comprehensive series of workshops for teachers and technical staff of schools (local training and study visit in Germany),
• Organization of vision workshops for teachers and students, which will result in the preparation of school Climate Neutrality Roadmaps and the implementation of pilot climate actions in schools,
• Development of methodological materials for schools and local government staff to facilitate the implementation of the developed solutions on a wider scale,
• Organisation of targeted national and international awareness-raising events for local community and building local networking and exchange of experiences.

EXPECTED PROJECT RESULTS:

• Each school involved in the project will implement the school Climate Neutrality Action Plan, becoming a model for other institutions, and by assessing its carbon footprint and implementing real actions, it will reduce its own emissions.
• Students and local communities will gain space for visible actions, development and active engagement in climate protection and aiming at climate neutrality.
• Teachers, education staff and other stakeholders involved will improve their competences related to climate protection and climate neutrality through trainings based on international experiences and will gain skills enabling them to respond to the needs of their students, related to environmental and climate goals.
• Awareness and competence-raising materials will be trasferred to other local authorities and educational centers.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

• Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) – Berlin, Germany
• National Trust Ecofund – Sofia, Bulgaria
• Energy Agency of Savinjska, Saleska and Koroska Region (KSSENA) – Velenje, Slovenia
• Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités" – Cracow, Poland

DURATION: 01.11.2022  – 30.04.2025

FINANCING: European Climate Initiative - EUKI

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