Project reducing carbon footprint wins award

Education

Aschemetohelpschools reduce their carbon footprint has won a top award.

Peterborough EnvironmentCity Trust (PECT) won an international Green Apple award for Environmental Best Practice 2016, which wasgiven for its bespoke PeterboroughEcoFramework.

PECT launched its Peterborough Eco Framework back in 2015 to support the delivery of environmental education in local schools and help them to reduce their carbon footprint.

PECT’s Environmental Education Manager Jill Foster said theorganisationwas delighted to win the award. Shesaid: “Weareabsolutely thrilled to win this award.

“PECTdidauniquething when it decided to launch a bespoke EcoFrameworkfor the city’s schools.

“We wanted to ensure environmental activity remained accessible to everyone.

“It also felt preferable to refer to local situations and resources, in order to encourage long- term behaviour change among students.”

As part of the new framework, schools can gain accreditation in each of the 10 Environment Capital themes.

Certificates are awarded f or each theme, and when a school has achieved five themes the school can proudlyflythePeterborough EcoFrameworkflag, displaying their environmental status and the achievements of their students.

Since the project launched at the end of 2015, 21 certificates have been awarded to schools for their work across the 10 different themes, and one school – Woodston Primary – has just become the first to receive the Peterborough Eco Education Flag, after receiving certificates in five of the themes.

The award will be presented at a ceremony in November at The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Palace.