UK – Earth Day: UK’s schools show clean energy and biodiversity impact

This Earth Day, Let’s Go Zero – the national campaign for schools, colleges and nurseries to be zero carbon by 2030 – will be celebrating the power of working together to take climate action with schools around the country.

The nationwide campaign has directly supported UK schools in delivering an estimated 13,610 tonnes of CO2 savings, with planned actions set to save a further 68,867 tonnes. Together, that’s the same impact as 266,464 individual passenger flights between London and New York.

Nearly 6,000 schools are now signed up to the Let’s Go Zero campaign – all committing to be on a journey to zero carbon. More than 16,000 schools have heard about the campaign through the wide range of resources and activities offered. And more than 2 million young people and 302,000 school staff members have now been reached by Let’s Go Zero’s proactive, ‘can-do’ climate messaging – figures revealed in Let’s Go Zero’s Impact Report, published for Earth Day.

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Photo: Reducing school bills and protecting the planet is a no-brainer for schools. Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors support schools to explore options for renewable energy and to implement a whole range of climate actions. Credit: Jon Spaul/Ashden

Inspiration from schools this Earth Day:

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Photo: Students use a thermal imaging camera at Stathern Primary School in Leicestershire to discover where energy is being lost. Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisor Jelly Moring (behind) conducts carbon audits with every school she supports and helps set priorities for a climate action plan. Credit: Jon Spaull/Ashden

A few examples of the thousands of climate actions that have been taken by schools country-wide, with free support and advice by Let’s Go Zero climate action advisors:

Slashing energy use: Norfolk’s Thetford Academy 11 tonnes of CO2 – and £6,830 on their annual bills through making energy efficiency changes. And The Magdalen Church of England/Methodist Primary School, Lincolnshire tackled their energy waste and saved £448.39 on its monthly bill.
Getting moving: Stathern Primary School in Leicester boosted travel by scooter, bike or walking from 37-57% by holding an active travel competition – an amazing result for a rural school.
Having a ‘growing’ mind-set: Rowley Hall Primary School in the West Midlands launched a ‘grow-your-own foodbank’, with vegetables delivered to older people living nearby.
Transforming a building: London’s Christ the King Sixth Form turned a disused building into an eco-hub, a dedicated learning space that is also shared with local community groups.
Getting a buzz from beekeeping: Northfleet Technology College in Kent has installed hives on-site, training for young people, and bee- related science projects on the curriculum.

Schools show ambitious zero carbon commitments

Let’s Go Zero started in 2020 – a campaign coordinated by climate solutions charity Ashden, with minimal funds but a strong vision. Now, with the support of its main funder Green Future Investments Limited (GFIL), it is the UK’s largest school sustainability movement reaching over 5,870 schools and representing more than 2 million young people. The impact of the campaign’s advice, resources and direct support, can be seen in classrooms, canteens and playing fields is across the UK.

“It’s been an incredible, fast and inspiring five years,” says Alex Green, Head of Let’s Go Zero. “When we started with just myself as the one dedicated worker within Ashden, it was a massively ambitious vision to have thousands of schools all working with us to be zero carbon.

“Now we have 32 climate action advisors who are at the heart of schools’ support. These wonderful experts give schools free guidance that’s practical, achievable and tailored to their needs.”

More than 2,400 schools have joined since the beginning of the academic year in September 2024, showing how schools are prioritising climate action, and seeking guidance to do it.

Taking responsibility for emissions and adaptation

Schools and universities create 36% of the England’s building emissions, so actions in schools can make a big difference to the UK’s total emissions and environmental protection. Since 2020, 806 schools involved in Let’s Go Zero have taken action on decarbonisation and energy efficiency and 1,023 intend to do so in 2025 alone.

Importantly, many schools are also looking into how to adapt to climate impacts, such as anti-flooding measures, or cooling in extreme heat – with 441 expecting to act on these during 2025, an increase from the previous year’s 51 schools.

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Photo: Three pupils in front of a forest of 400 trees planted by the school and children in the outdoor play areas, Esher Church School, Surrey. Planting can help provide a zero energy, low-cost natural cooling system as well as reduce flooding, improve biodiversity, and connect children with nature. Credit: Jon Spaull/Ashden

“We work with schools on a range of issues – not just in order to reduce carbon or protect the environment, but to get right down to the issues that affect everyday school life,” says Alex Green. “Our Climate Action Advisors work with schools to find ways to keep classrooms warmer in winter, cooler in the summer, cheaper to run, and for schools to be healthier and happier places for learning.”

We owe it to young people to make national climate progress

Another impetus for action this Earth Day is the government’s suggestion that schools be in the process of creating climate action plans by September and to have a dedicated sustainability lead.

Let’s Go Zero is a trusted partner in various government initiatives and pilot schemes. And government ministers have already acted on Let’s Go Zero policy recommendations – such as ensuring all education settings have a climate action plan and nominated sustainability lead. But much more needs to be done to make sure systemic change is in place.

Alex Green is positive about the education sector’s potential for deep and meaningful action, on Earth Day and every day: “In the years ahead we will support schools to prioritise high-impact measures such as modernising buildings, and generating clean energy on site. And we will seize on growing political momentum behind school sustainability to accelerate policy change.”

The government announcement last month of £80m to help put solar on around 200 school building roofs has been well-received, she says, but this needs to be just the beginning of investments of this kind.

“Our country owes it to schools and young people to deliver more support, more progress and more ambition on this important issue – it makes total sense in terms of helping schools make their budgets go further by not having to cover ever-increasing energy bills, cutting the country’s carbon emissions and helping children be proactive in their response to climate change.”