Fostering Environmental Leadership for a Sustainable Future
When a group of Grade 10 students at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute in Ontario learned about the global climate crisis, they decided to take action. What began as a classroom conversation grew into the school’s first student-led climate conference, bringing together students, local organizations, and community leaders for a day of workshops on youth leadership, sustainability, and climate solutions.
Upper Grand District School Board. (2024, December 18). Grade 9 students compete in first-ever “Climate Showdown”. UGDSB.
With guidance from their teachers and the EcoSchools program, students coordinated every detail, from inviting speakers to leading hands-on sessions about waste reduction and renewable energy. The event sparked meaningful conversations across the school and inspired other students to take on their own environmental projects.
Upper Grand District School Board. (2024, December 18). Grade 9 students compete in first-ever “Climate Showdown”. UGDSB.
Stories like this are unfolding across Canada thanks in part to the support and contribution from Procter & Gamble (P&G), who have generously supported EcoSchools Canada’s mission to nurture student leaders, reduce the environmental impact of schools, and build sustainable school communities. P&G’s support also helped launch the new EcoSchools Board Program, a new program that aims to support school boards on the road to carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Thanks to the support and generosity of the team at P&G, we are thrilled to tackle the challenge of decarbonizing Canada’s 15,000 schools and operations. School board leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to take action and make a significant contribution to Canada’s Net Zero by 2050 target. The climate crisis is not being addressed at the scale and speed necessary and students are rightfully concerned about the planet they will be inheriting. This program will identify opportunities for climate mitigation projects at schools that will also serve as learning spaces for students to discover what is possible and how they can choose careers that support a sustainable future.”
Ryan Dyment, EcoSchools Canada
If you are a member of a school community, reach out to us to learn more about the EcoSchools Board Program and how you can take part.