Let’s Go Zero campaign tops 1,000 schools signed up

Let’s Go Zero - a campaign in which schools commit to be zero carbon by 2030 – has now exceeded 1,000 signed up schools across the UK.

Let’s Go Zero is a coalition campaign coordinated by climate solutions charity Ashden and includes IKEA UK, Global Action Plan, WWF, The Carbon Trust, Sustrans, The Soil Association, Eco Schools and Fairtrade.

Let’s Go Zero schools have been taking action to cut their emissions with transport, waste, food, water, the school grounds, energy use, procurement and in their teaching.

Initiatives in Let’s Go Zero schools range from the simple to the more extensive and include energy monitoring and installing smart meters; eco-retrofitting draughty old buildings; having annual No Electricity Days; installing solar panels or wind turbines; reducing food waste (one school’s Ecoteam even weighs it daily!) and composting all the school’s food waste in a biodigester. Let’s Go Zero schools are full of inspirational actions being taken all over the country by students and teachers.

Alex Green, Let’s Go Zero’s Project Manager, said: “We’re so excited to have reached this milestone in just over a year. Let’s Go Zero schools are leading the way, showing communities, councils and the government how to move fast in a climate emergency. In nurseries, primary and secondary schools, colleges and schools serving children with special educational needs, teachers and students UK-wide have shown that change is possible.”

Let’s Go Zero schools are across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Schools are such an important part of the communities they work for, and with with 544,000 students and 75,500 school staff involved we know that this campaign is changing communities across the country.  

“When schools make sustainable choices, they help spread knowledge about our climate and the action we can all take to help secure a green economy for future generations,” said Ms Green. “The schools are acting as zero carbon community champions – and influencing and benefiting local businesses as they make their changes.”