As part of our Climate Leadership Contest, we invited schools to share how they took climate action during COP 22 (November 7-18, 2016) for the chance to be entered into a $500 prize draw from Cascades. This winter, we will be sharing our winning schools’ stories

Here is how St. Joseph Catholic School, an elementary school in Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) took action to effect change in their school community! Responses are based on a condensed interview with the St. Joseph EcoTeam.


What is the action you chose and how does it relate to climate change?

Our action was to reduce the number of idling vehicles dropping off or waiting for students at our school. Idling vehicles burn gasoline and according to Natural Resources Canada each litre of gasoline burnt produces about 2.3 kg of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. The EcoTeam also learned that the car emissions can impact everyone’s health, especially that of children.

What did you learn?

As a team we learned about the impact of vehicle idling on climate change and health by doing research. We also observed what is happening at our school. For example, we have three buses dropping off students in the morning and picking them up at the end of the school day. We have parents using a short term parking lot during the day and a larger parking lot for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. We noticed that the bus drivers don’t normally turn off their engines in the morning, but often do in the afternoon. Several parents don’t turn off their cars when dropping off students for before-school care, even when they are walking their children into the school. Our goal was to get everyone to turn off their engines if waiting more than sixty seconds.

How did you encourage others to join your campaign?

We included articles about car idling in the November and December school newsletters, made morning announcements on the PA system to raise student awareness, made and put up signs on the fences and talked to the principal and staff about the whole school joining the Eco Team in a silent vigil about stopping idling next to the parking lots. This vigil will take place in 2017.

How did the action impact your school community and EcoTeam habits?

So far we know that the campaign has raised awareness in the student body about what happens when vehicles are left to idle. We think we will have a bigger impact on the parents when we have the vigil.

Does St. Joseph have any other climate actions planned for this year?

We are planning to keep monitoring what’s going on in our parking lots and keep trying to convince parents to turn off their engines. We will be putting up commercially made signs with an anti-idling message.  We also plan to continue to improve our gardens to support wildlife.

Our tips: How to start an anti-idling campaign at your school

Anti-idling campaigns are a good way to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the short-term and encourage sustainable transportation (like walking and carpooling) in the longer-term. Inspired to start a similar campaign at your school? Now is a good time to plan for spring. Remember to claim points for school-wide campaigns in Environmental Stewardship. For full requirements of Environmental Stewardship, please review the 2016-17 Certification Guide.