Inverness schools mark Copenhagen Climate Change conference

A group of seven schools in the Inverness area are marking the Copenhagen Climate Change conference by raising awareness of their own efforts to tackle climate change.

Millburn Academy and its six feeder schools including Crown, Daviot, Drakies,
Inshes, Raigmore, and Strathdearn Primary schools are participating in a project called Energy + Action = Change.

The aim of the project which is supported by Highland One World Group and CSV Action for Sustainability with funding from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund is to achieve an annual 3% reduction in their carbon footprint to help meet the Scottish Government's target of 80% reduction by 2050.

To coincide with the Copenhagen Conference, Martyn Crawshaw, Head of Science Faculty at Millburn Academy will be visiting each of the six primary 7 classes to talk to them about the effects of energy consumption on climate change and to give them a Smart Meter to monitor their energy consumption.

Martyn Crawshaw said: “For years now pupils have learnt about environmental issues but climate change and carbon dioxide is very topical and will form a large part of 11 year old’s lives.  The pupils we are talking to were born the year after the 1997 Kyoto climate summit, Japan in so they are very much children of the climate change era.  This project is breaking new ground by providing pupils with real data on which to make decisions to change behaviour and save energy.”

Mr MacDonald P7 class teacher who is leading on the project at Inshes Primary said: “The Smart Meters are a fun way for the children to explore a serious subject.  By finding their own home energy usage and making a plan for real change the children are helping prepare their communities for the future post-Copenhagen.”

Janis Keast, Highland Council’s Development Education Worker with Highland One World Group said: “This is an innovative transition project for pupils going from primary to secondary school. It exemplifies the Curriculum for Excellence helping to develop responsible citizens, successful learners, confident individuals and effective contributors.   

She added: “The smaller schools in particular value the project as it gives their P7s more opportunities to meet some of their future teachers, visit their future Secondary school and mix with peers from other schools so that their move from Primary to Secondary is as smooth as possible.”