The strategy, which was published by the Department for Education (DfE) in September 2021, sets out a number of measures that schools can take to reduce their environmental impact, such as cutting energy use, reducing waste, and promoting biodiversity. However, critics say that the strategy is not ambitious enough and does not go far enough in addressing the climate crisis.
One of the main criticisms of the strategy is that it is not mandatory for schools to follow. This means that schools are free to choose whether or not to implement the measures set out in the strategy, which could result in a lack of consistency in how sustainability and climate change are addressed in schools across the country.
Another criticism is that the strategy does not provide enough funding for schools to take meaningful action on sustainability and climate change. The DfE has allocated £1 million to support schools in implementing the strategy, but critics say that this is not enough to cover the costs of making significant changes to school buildings and infrastructure.
In addition, the strategy has been criticized for not giving enough attention to the role of education in raising awareness of sustainability and climate change. Critics say that schools should be doing more to teach students about the environmental crisis and to empower them to take action.
Overall, the new sustainability and climate change strategy for schools in England is a welcome step forward, but it falls short of meeting the demands of young people, who are increasingly concerned about the environmental crisis and want to see more ambitious action from their schools.
