I was fortunate enough a week or so ago to visit Walkergate Primary School with a Green Flag for the school’s work on the environment. (Walkergate’s latest Ofsted report is here)
We are developing a city-wide Climate Change strategy (the existing strategy formulated in 2008 is here). The biggest thing that will have to change is behaviour, so that everybody uses less power and heat. Whatever we do by way of bringing new homes up to environmental standards, retrofitting to older homes, and improving transmission of heat and power, this remains the case. The best hope of changing behaviour is to ensure that youngsters understand the issues, and support them with practical action.
So, whether it is learning about gardening, or saving energy and recycling, the young people at Walkergate Primary are making sure that we meet our Carbon Reduction targets for 2050. The fact this is happening in a brand new school, with enthusiastic and committed staff, shows what regeneration can achieve.