When the term ‘ESG’ (Environmental, Social and Governance) was first used in a United Nations report in 2004, it was seen as a bit of a 21st-century buzzword. But since then, it has become a vital component of business success - and academy trusts are no exception to this.
Whilst it covers three important pillars, one area of ESG that academy trusts cannot ignore is sustainability. Climate change is a growing issue and the education sector is facing an increasing set of requirements and expectations.
The Department for Education (DfE) Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy was published in April 2022 and set a clear deadline for academies - “by 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan.” The latest Academy Trust Handbook, published this year, also refers directly to the Strategy, reinforcing the direction of travel from the DfE.
So, with just three months left of 2025, what actions do academy trusts need to take? And what should your climate action plan focus on?
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to appoint a sustainability lead in your leadership team. Whether this is someone new or an existing member of the team, they need to be able to coordinate the school’s climate initiatives to drive forward your climate action strategy.
The DfE states that, while “it is up to each individual trust to decide the structure of their sustainability leadership team, best practice shows that change is delivered when driven by a diverse team of passionate individuals.”
With this in mind, you should consider recruiting people across all departments - from teachers to estate management. Not only this, but the presence of senior leaders is important, as they have the authority for decision-making, which can lead to positive climate change.
If you’re part of a multi-academy trust, you should also consider taking a holistic approach and including representatives from across all schools. This will ensure that there is consistency across the climate action plan and that change is implemented across all schools in the trust.
Although having a climate action plan is not yet mandatory for academies, the DfE is strongly encouraging trusts to get on board with its recommendations and has provided guidance for those who don’t already have a plan in place.
It says that a holistic climate action plan should cover the following four areas:
1. Decarbonisation
A key part of this will be to calculate your current carbon emissions and outline actions that can be taken to reduce this. Tactics could include upgrading to LED lighting or switching to renewable energy to improve energy efficiency; reducing waste and increasing recycling; choosing sustainable suppliers across the supply chain; and implementing car sharing incentives to reduce travel emissions.
2. Adaptation and resilience
This involves setting tangible goals that will improve your climate resilience. For example, you could implement ‘smart’ building management systems to ensure heating, cooling, lighting, water and power only operate when needed, reducing the risk of flooding and overheating.
3. Improving the environment and biodiversity
Implementing green spaces where nature can thrive will help to promote biodiversity, as well as improving student wellbeing and enhancing outdoor learning experiences. To do this, you could create school gardens, install bird feeders and insect hotels, and collaborate with local businesses or charities on tree-planting initiatives.
4. Climate education and green careers
If we’re to make a real difference and improve the sustainability of the education sector, then academy trusts need to make sure the whole school community is engaged in their climate action plan. This involves embedding climate education into the curriculum for students, ensuring your team is trained on sustainable practices and their role in delivering the climate action plan, and engaging parents and governors to ensure you have their support.
Although the DfE’s intention with the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy is to improve the sustainability of the education sector, it can also be used as an opportunity for trusts to cost-save in certain areas - leading to increased reserves and better financial performance.
In order to achieve this, understanding your academy’s current financial performance is vital. Existing financial data should be used to identify areas for improvement and inform decision-making, helping you to set achievable goals and work towards continuous improvement.
For help and guidance on the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, including creating a climate action plan, join the Duncan & Toplis ‘Empowering educators for climate action’ webinar on Tuesday 7 October. To register, click here.
