BEP Climate Challenge Update 2021

Introduction

Schools within the Bristol Education Partnership (BEP) started working together with
local environmental organisations in 2019 to develop projects to help tackle the climate
emergency. This was BEP’s launch project and since that time work has continued. Whilst
progress has inevitably been affected by the pandemic and the various lockdowns,
students and staff met earlier this year to discuss their achievements to date and plan
future activities.

With COP26 taking place in Glasgow in November 2021, when the UK will be hosting
international climate talks, now is a good time to showcase the encouraging work taking
place across partner schools.

One of the benefits of the partnership is that schools can learn with and from each other.
At our meetings, students and staff hear about projects being developed in other partner
schools and it inspires action in their own settings. Another benefit is that we are using
our amazing city as a resource for learning. Bristol was the first city in the UK to declare a
climate emergency and the city council has drawn up a One City Plan to achieve net zero
by 2045. It is important that schools play their part in reaching this target.

At Bristol Education Partnership we have been fortunate in working with our two
university partners, University of Bristol and University of West of England (UWE), and
with organisations such as the Soil Association, Sustrans and the Centre for Sustainable
Energy. They have supported and inspired us.

The purpose of this Update is to document progress that has been made on our Climate
Challenge across the partnership over the past year and present plans for the future.

BEP Climate COP26