In an era defined by climate change and environmental challenges, the role of schools in shaping responsible and environmentally conscious citizens has never been more crucial. Global warming, a pressing issue, demands collective action. This feature explores how schools are stepping up to the plate, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship among students, and implementing initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
To gain insights into the proactive measures taken by schools, we sat down with the leaders of the EAC (Environmental Action Club) at NHS,Cameron Cooney and Laine Wiesel
How has your environmental club contributed to raising awareness about global warming within the school community?
Many of our initiatives aim to raise awareness around climate change and hope to inspire people of all ages to participate in the effort to create a more sustainable Needham.
Can you share some successful initiatives or projects that your club has undertaken to address environmental concerns?
A plastic Free Lunch at Sunita Williams, we worked with Green Needham to support the Plastic Bag Ban (in Needham businesses) in Needham → assisted with initiative to pass this. We helped install more water bottle fillers around the school in order to encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of buying them at lunch everyday. We also worked with the Nutritional Service board (and cafeteria) to change styrofoam trays in the cafeteria to compostable trays. Finally, we partnered with AgriCycle that will come to the high school and take the food waste, compostable trays, and recyclables to their facility in Maine to undergo a process called anaerobic digestion.
Do you have any more projects that you plan on sharing with the rest of the school? In what ways do you engage students and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives?
Electronic Drive for Gorillas → We are organizing an electronic drive where people can donate their old phones or other electronic devices, and we reuse the materials in old electronics which means that they don’t have to mine for new resources and harm animal habitats (specifically Gorillas). Another one is invasive Species in front of the High School: We are working to get rid of the Japanese Burning Bush in front of the high school and replace it with a native species. Also, we create infographics, videos, and instagram posts that can help educate people in the Needham community about sustainability.
Have you encountered any challenges in promoting environmental consciousness, and how have you overcome them?
The main one is that not everyone is open to listening to our new initiatives. Also, it takes long timelines to get a project done especially when working with the town and passing various legislation. Another important one is people do not want to follow the food waste/recycling and cannot see how it is impactful in the long run.
We also interviewed Mr. Hans Batra, the leader of the Environmental Action Club, to see if he wanted to add anything to the questions above:
How has your environmental club contributed to raising awareness about global warming within the school community?
The students in the club decide what to work on. They have done amazing work over the years. We have talked as a club about Global Warming, but have focused on things that the student body or the residents of Needham can do to be more environmentally friendly. The issues are very complicated when you get into the details. I once read that the most effective thing that citizens can do is to vote into office politicians that care about the environment, because they can impact the laws and regulations that will bring about big changes. However, each of us can do small things while we wait for the politicians to do the right thing, and if we get enough people to do a little, it can bring about big changes. Turning down your thermostat, using less water, "Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle,” etc. It takes a little time, but once you get into the habit, you do it without thinking about it.
Can you share some successful initiatives or projects that your club has undertaken to address environmental concerns?
There have been many projects that the club has been involved with. The Needham Plastic Bag Ban has been going on for many years--several years ago the town didn't want to make the ban mandatory, but instead voluntary. When Covid hit people weren't allowed to re-use bags, so the plastic bags came back,but a renewed effort finally was passed, and starting January 1 plastic bags will be banned. The club has sold reusable water bottles to try to get students to stop buying water in throw-away bottles. They have advocated for more water bottle filling stations in the school, most recently one was installed in the 700's. They have worked with a Needham organization called Mothers Out Front bringing awareness to how many gas leaks there are in town that need to be fixed. They have worked with Green Needham to get Solar Panels above the parking lots--the fire chief is against putting them in the NHS parking lots because of the 4th of July fireworks (One event is blocking years of renewable energy!), but work is being done to get them at other school, Newman being the best option. The club worked for many years to get rid of the styrofoam trays in the cafeteria, and then to start the food waste recycling program. They made posters and videos to create awareness. Now we need to get all the students in the school to care even more, to put the food in the green bins, stack the trays, and reduce the amount of trash. This is an ongoing project--how do you get students to take the time to do it right? The club has published a list of little things students can do to help protect the environment. I hope they publish more of these ideas. The students have been doing regular trash pickups around the school, and on Earth Day they usually pick up trash around town in one of the parks (Town Forest, Ridge Hill, etc.).
Do you have any more projects that you plan on sharing with the rest of the school?
Right now, they have a campaign to recycle old electronics, so that the precious metals can be recovered and re-used instead of mining for more minerals, which ultimately hurts the habitats of animals, and specifically the gorillas--the campaign is called Save the Gorillas (by recycling electronics). The students are planning other projects, I'll let the leaders answer what else they would like to do this year. I do know that they are looking into changing out some bushes at the school that have been identified as invasive species.
In what ways do you engage students and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives?
During meetings we talk about little things they can do that may also save them money, like using reusable lunch boxes, silverware, metal straw, and tupperware for those that bring their lunches. Eating less red meat is not only more healthy, but also can help reduce greenhouse gasses (cows produce a lot of methane, which is a greenhouse gas). The students also learn that it takes a lot of time and effort to make changes, and that it is hard to get people to change their behavior. People will change their behavior when it becomes a crisis, but we need to figure out how to get people to change before the problems get worse, before we are in an even worse climate crisis than now.
Have you encountered any challenges in promoting environmental consciousness, and how have you overcome them?
I think the challenges are that it takes much longer to get things done than you expect. We have been trying for about 4 years to get the Water Bottle filling station in the 700's, but finally it is done! Some of the projects like the plastic bag ban or the food waste recycling have taken over 6 years, they have been passed down through the leadership teams over the years until they get done. Students learn a lot from this process, like how to stick with a project, how to work with town officials, and how to carry it through regardless of the roadblocks.
Schools across the globe are recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change and are weaving environmental education into their core curriculum. Science classes often delve into the science behind climate change, while social studies explore the global impacts and geopolitical dimensions of environmental issues. This interdisciplinary approach equips students with a holistic understanding of the challenges posed by global warming.
Moreover, environmental clubs like the one at NHS play a pivotal role in reinforcing the importance of sustainable living. These clubs organize tree-planting drives, recycling programs, and awareness campaigns to engage the student body. By instilling a sense of responsibility and activism, schools are nurturing the next generation of leaders who understand the gravity of climate change and are equipped to tackle it head-on.
Schools are investing in eco-friendly infrastructure, implementing energy-saving measures, and adopting green technologies to reduce their carbon footprint. These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also provide students with tangible examples of sustainable practices in action.
As the global community grapples with the consequences of climate change, schools are emerging as catalysts for positive change. Through dedicated environmental education, collaborative initiatives, and the commitment of school leaders, students are not only learning about the impacts of global warming but actively participating in the solution. By fostering a culture of environmental stewardship, schools are shaping a generation that is not just aware of the challenges but is empowered to be part of the solution. The efforts of the NHS and similar institutions serve as inspiring examples of how education can be a driving force in the fight against global warming, nurturing a generation committed to building a sustainable and resilient future.