Young Reporters on the Route: Day 2 with Eco-Schools Wallace Hall Academy and Applegarth Primary School in Scotland!

By John Psaila, Age 8, Young Reporter for the Environment, Scotland

Display showing Eco-Schools activities at Wallace Hall Academy.

The second day of the Running Out of Time Relay event the weather turned to the better. Wallace Hall Academy was the first school where the baton would be handed over. Although it was a Saturday, Wallace Hall Academy was buzzing with excitement. Staff, students, and members of the community were gathered in front of the school with handmade banners to cheer the runners on. Infront of the school was a display showing all the amazing eco-work the students had and were working on. They had covered great work on many of the Eco-Schools topics!

When Jasmin Paris came around the corner running with the baton in her hand everyone was cheering and waving their banners! Even the sun came out from behind the clouds to welcome the runner. She entrusted the baton to Tom and Emily, who were accompanied by Hooley, the dog.

Jasmin’s journey had started in Kirkconnel, Sanquhar and now 26 km later she had arrived in Thornhill. Jasmin had put 26km of the total 7,767 km on her name. Jasmin is an eager hill runner and loves the outdoor. Nature makes her happy, it is a place where she can relax and find peace. She finds it important that everyone is aware of how they can contribute to the solutions of climate change. Participating in the Running Out of Time relay event allowed her to help raise awareness of the importance and need of quality environmental education for all.

Even ponies took part in the relay!

Applegarth Primary School in Lockerbie an active Eco-School with a beautiful outdoor space and outdoor classroom was the next hand-over point. As at Wallace Hall Academy, staff, pupils and members of the community crowed near Applegarth Primary School. There were even two ponies and rider and a pony with carriage to welcome runner James, who had taken over the baton from Tom, Emily, and Hooley the dog and to support Mike in the next part of the relay! As James came insight, the ponies joined his side. He handed over the baton to Mike, who was going to cover the next 32 kilometres by bicycle. Mike mounted his bicycle and with the ponies on his side cycled into the distance!

John speaking with Mike, one of the members of the support crew.

Mike is a keen cyclist, who loves a challenge. He already had over 500 miles cycling on his name for 2022. Cycling gives him a sense of freedom. The freedom to be one with nature. Nature gives him the opportunity to explore and experience all his senses and clear his mind. His encouragement to participate in the Running Out of Time relay event was raise the awareness of world leaders to provide good environmental education for everyone.

About John

Hi, I am John and live in Scotland. I live in Ayrshire with my dad, mum, and brother. We have rabbits, ducks, chickens, cats - Shadow and a hound - Carmen. Carmen is a Collie and she loves being outside looking after the animals. Shadow loves to go into the fields looking for food. We are going to have a second cat soon. I am with the Scouts - Cubs and I do gymnastics. I love the outdoors, with my family we go for walks, bicycle rides and canoeing. I also like creating things and writing stories.

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Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Scotland, the YRE programme is coordinated by our member, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Running Out of Time: Crossing the Finish Line

“Action not words” is the message from young people as the world’s longest relay Running Out of Time crosses the finish line at COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh and delivers a climate message to world leaders.

November 8, Sharm El-Sheikh: At 7,767km, the Running Out of Time relay is the longest non-stop relay ever attempted and now it’s complete as the relay team crosses the finish line in Egypt!

Over the past 40 days (30 September to 8 November) thousands of runners, cyclists and sailors have worked together to pass a relay baton through 18 countries from COP26 host city Glasgow, Scotland to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in the name of climate action and in support of principal partners Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Carbon Copy.

Baton carriers have included Olympians, young people, Head of State President Borut Pahor, mayors, government ministers, city councillors, NGOs, community groups, ambassadors, activists, students, business leaders, friends and families.

Inside the #RunningOutOfTime baton is a message written in English and Arabic by young people and signed by over 800,000 people, to the decision makers at COP27 calling for quality climate education to equip people of all ages and in all places with the skills, knowledge and opportunities to build sustainable, climate resilient communities.

Meeting the relay team at the finish line is Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who says “I want to congratulate all the participants in this world-first relay and welcome the baton as it completes its journey across 18 countries, from Glasgow to Egypt. Their message is clear: climate change is already having a massive impact around the world and if we don’t take the right action, things will only get worse.

“The hugely inspiring efforts of everyone who took part show why youth action is so important. Not only have children and young people played a significant role in keeping climate change at the top of the global agenda, but they will also face the greatest impacts of climate change over their lifetimes. “It is only right that we listen to the voices of the next generation, and that we hear them when they challenge us to do more to tackle the climate emergency.

“The Glasgow Climate Pact was an important agreement, which included strengthened efforts to build resilience to climate change, curb greenhouse gas emissions and provide the necessary finance for both. 

“Countries cannot row back on the commitments made in Glasgow. COP27 must put a renewed focus on the ongoing delivery of the commitments already made and seek agreement for more meaningful action.”

The iconic relay baton was created by award-winning Glasgow-based designers 4c Design. It utilises 18 seemingly fragile parts representing the nations the baton passes through that are stronger together where the exchange of the baton happens. The iconic spiral rings represent the four essential layers of climate action where impact can be made: international, national, local and individual.

Jamie Hay Running Out of Time Co-Founder “What an extraordinary journey to COP27 it has been! We said we would do this and today, as we crossed the finish line, we proved it was possible. We have passed this baton mile after mile, day and night, for 40 days. Thanks to the incredible collective effort of thousands of people, across 18 countries, we have covered the 7,767km from Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh. 

We've run, cycled, rowed, sailed, windsurfed and skied our way here. Through thunderstorms, hail, wind, snow, and desert heat. We never gave up. We kept moving forward. We kept working together. We've seen first-hand the endless human determination to show up and carry the baton for a cause we all believe in. We turned our words into action and I hope this baton, this symbol of hope, will be a reminder to world leaders that they must do the same.”

The baton has travelled non-stop through Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt. During a ‘virtual’ Global Stage on Nov 5th hundreds of people from over 60 countries took part in solidarity around the world.

It’s crossed seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, villages, towns and capital cities. Along the way it has visited hundreds of schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects and championed local climate action.

Ric Casale, Founder Carbon Copy “This incredible climate relay has been a bright green thread over thousands of kilometres that has connected an amazing set of ambitious climate action projects, from community-owned renewable energy schemes to large-scale nature recovery programmes. It has highlighted the awesome potential and power of collective local action. We’re urging more resources from leaders at COP27 behind climate action at the sub-national level, at the point where policies are delivered and in places where people must adapt to our changing climate.”

Extraordinary moments were plentiful on this epic journey including (but not limited to!) adrenalin-filled crossings of the world’s busiest shipping lane The Dover Strait, by rowers, sailors and windsurfers, the Stubai Glacier in the Austrian Alps by foot, solar-boat and rowed across lakes and the Mediterranean sea by sail on a performance trimaran on top of mile after mile of running and cycling.

Hetty Key, Running Out of Time Operations Director says “At the start of this journey, plenty of people thought we were bonkers to take on a challenge of such epic proportions. Now I can see why! The route alone took 4 months to plot! But behind the few that questioned the feasibility of such a bold project, there was an even greater number of people who believed it was possible. Whether they were lacing up their trainers, getting on their bikes, cheering on the streets or giving their valuable expertise behind the scenes - the result is 40 days later, we're here in Sharm El-Sheikh at COP27! 

In that same way, no one person could run continuously from Glasgow to Egypt. No one person can tackle climate change. However, I wholeheartedly believe that Running Out of Time has shown the magnitude and scale of what we can achieve when we work together. I hope that everyone connected to this relay sees and feels the impact they have had, and, most of all, understands the sheer power we each have as individuals to inspire change - on a local, national and international scale.”

The relay’s Global Schools Action Day on November 3rd saw over 755,147+ students from 2,163 schools in 104 countries unite and demonstrate how local actions have global impact. It was an unforgettable opportunity for students to join the call for universal quality climate education, take part in a range of fun activities, and engage with programmes and resources from the world’s leading environmental education organisations.

Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education at FEE: “Most people agree that education is a public good. It cannot be called quality education if it does not help communities to face unprecedented changes in our environment. Education has to prepare each one of us to brave the existential crisis that is climate change. Running Out of Time has shown that school communities globally are ready to provide quality climate education. They, however, urgently need an enabling environment in the form of time, space in the curriculum, professional training and relevant resources to deliver quality climate education as a right of every child. We will relay their demand to world leaders at COP 27 and continue to support educational systems globally in greening education.” 

The finish line of the relay marks the launch of The Extreme Hangout at COP27, a grassroots initiative giving young people a voice to drive climate action. Held over 4 days from Nov 8 to 11 at COP27 from a tented pavilion on the beach front overlooking the Red Sea, the hangout will host live debate and inspiring discussion from key opinion leaders, youth climate activists, politicians, Prime Ministers and environmental commentators, all on a joint mission to amplify the game-changing research and ideas helping to tackle climate change.

Amber Nuttall, founder of the Extreme Hangout, says “It’s the global youth who will ultimately suffer the most from a lack of action around climate change. The Extreme Hangout gives them a seat at the table, It’s a place where both young and underrepresented people can express opinions, share ideas, collaborate on solutions with decision makers and people in power while informing and inspiring a global audience through a live stream that amplifies their voices and holds leaders to account.”

From the finish line the baton set off to the UNESCO Pavilion in the COP27 Green Zone for a welcome ceremony “A Million Voices and 7,767 Kilometres: A Global Call for Climate Education” with partners and high profile guests and where the baton message will be read out. 

The relay baton and every participant was supported along the journey by five incredible humans whose smiling faces will be familiar to all who took part: Abe Lim, Mike Borgen, Emily Scott, James Levelle and Eoghan McDonaugh. We can’t wait to hear and share their stories!

Dan Thompson Director World Relay says “Everyone working together – and making small sacrifices now to avoid making huge sacrifices in the future – are key to effective climate action. The relay perfectly symbolises these two imperatives. It literally doesn’t work unless someone shows up for every stage – even the 3 a.m. ones in the cold and the rain. I’d like to say an enormous 7,767km long thank you to everyone who participated and created such an incredible atmosphere on the road and at the handovers. And to our partners and the countless organisations and running and cycling groups without whom none of this would have been possible!”

See the highlights celebrated here: https://running-out-of-time.com/journey 

Key Climate Education Sessions Hosted by FEE at COP27

From the 6 – 18th of November, delegations from countries around the world will be attending COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The COP (Conference of the Parties) is the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Each year, countries “come together to take action towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals as agreed under the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC.” Building upon the outcomes of COP26 held in Glasgow, Scotland last year, the objectives of COP27 focus on mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, in addition to ensuring adequate climate financing and enhancing and facilitating collaboration between Governments, the private sector and civil society. Learn more about COP27 here.

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) will be represented at COP27 by Daniel Schaffer (CEO), Pramod Kumar Sharma (Senior Director of Education), Nikos Petrou (Vice President) and Kristina Madsen (International Coordinator of Education). FEE will be delivering two key sessions at the COP, centred on our call for universal, quality climate education, in addition to being invited as speakers in several other sessions.

FEE’s sessions can be attended both in person or virtually by those interested. More information regarding each session can be found below.

A Million Voices and 7,767 Kilometres: A Global Call for Climate Education

Date: 8th November 2022
Time: 11:15 – 12:15 EET
Location: UNESCO Pavilion (Green Zone)

After 38 days, 18 countries and 7,767 kilometres, the world’s longest ever non-stop relay, Running Out of Time, will come to an end in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on November 6th. Inside the relay baton is an urgent message, a global call for universal, quality climate education. Signed by nearly 500,000 individuals and supported by more than 1,500 schools in over 100 countries, the relay baton and the message it symbolizes will be presented to delegates at COP27, recognizing thousands of individuals and urging for global action and climate education.

Registration for Online Session:

https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VOrPhIuXS2et8ohXhyBsnQ

Universalization of Quality Climate Change Education (CCE) as a Key Component of SDG 4.7

Date: 14 November
Time: 16:45 – 18:15 EET
Location: Room 8, Thutmose (Blue Zone)

Transformative learning based on science is a necessity in wake of the climate crisis. Educational systems globally are lacking critical CCE. The time to learn and act is now. The session will discuss pathways and the role of stakeholders in realising SDG 4.7 through compulsory CCE as a basic right.

Co-organisers: Office for Climate Education, MECCE Project, The Danish Society of Engineers, and UNESCO

The session will be livestreamed from UNFCCC’s YouTube channel. A direct link will be uploaded here closer to the event.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the Running Out of Time relay and engaging in critical discussions around climate education during COP27.

Young Reporters on the Route: The Launch of Running Out of Time

By John Psaila, Age 8, Young Reporter for the Environment, Scotland

This was my first event to join as a Young Reporter of the Environment (YRE). I was nervous but I did it. I had the privilege to be part of the start of the amazing ‘Running Out of Time’ non-stop relay event (ROoT) and to meet some wonderful people, who are dedicating their time and efforts to raise awareness of the climate crisis and the importance of quality environmental education.

The non-stop ROoT relay is going from Glasgow, Scotland to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt through 18 different countries covering 7,767 km (4,826 miles) over land and sea. The runners, cyclist, rowers, and sailors will carry a baton.  The baton symbolises the 18 countries it will be visiting and calling for the need for and importance of quality environmental education for everyone all around the world.

The wild weather of Scotland showed its tricks on the start day of the ‘Running Out of Time’ relay event. So, the ROoT relay event that was planned to start at the Glasgow Green was moved to Sunnyside Primary School. The school was bursting with enthusiasm, pupils and staff of Sunnyside Primary School were all very excited and proud to be the start location of the ‘Running Out of Time’ Relay. There were cameras crews, photographers, and reporters to capture the whole event from start to finish. There were the designers from C4 Design, who had designed the stunning baton. A masterpiece that will carry the message of the need of quality environmental education.

Lesley Jones, President of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) were also at the event to strengthen the message of the need of quality environmental education. I had the privilege to interview Lesley Jones and Barry Fisher.

Lesley Jones is President of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Lesley lives in Cardiff, Wales. When I asked her, “How does the Environment makes you feel,” a lovely smile appeared on her face, like she could see herself walking her dogs in the beautiful Wales country site. She loves being outdoors doing the gardening in her garden. Working in the garden and getting your hands dirty can help to increase your serotonin levels.

She sees her garden as an important aspect in thriving eco-systems. Her work at FEE involves supporting her teams to design programmes so everyone can access quality environmental education to become aware how they can contribute to the solutions of climate change. FEE gives access to fascinating and supportive programmes, Eco-Schools, Young Reporters of the Environment, LEAF, Blue Flag, and Green Key.

My next interview was with Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB), a charity with the vision to encourage a Clean, Green, Sustainable Scotland.

Barry lives in Scotland with his family, and they just moved house. He added that they are insulating their home as best a possible to reduce the carbon footprint. Barry and his family work as a team so they all do the most to contribute to the solutions of climate change. They also do their best no to purchases single use plastic (refusing), to minimise their waste (reduce), and to recycle their waste (recycle).  Their garden is a heaven for pollinators. They are also growing trees to enhance air quality and storing carbon. He loves his work at KSB as it provides solutions to challenges. The charity can tailor solutions by working with schools, communities, and businesses.

About John

Hi, I am John and live in Scotland. I live in Ayrshire with my dad, mum, and brother. We have rabbits, ducks, chickens, cats - Shadow and a hound - Carmen. Carmen is a Collie and she loves being outside looking after the animals. Shadow loves to go into the fields looking for food. We are going to have a second cat soon. I am with the Scouts - Cubs and I do gymnastics. I love the outdoors, with my family we go for walks, bicycle rides and canoeing. I also like creating things and writing stories.

---

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Scotland, the YRE programme is coordinated by our member, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Running Out of Time Makes a Stop in Italy

The Relay for The Fight Against Climate Change Arrives in Jesolo With The Message to the World Leaders Meeting at COP27

Paralympic athlete Roberto Bellingardo receiving the Running Out of Time relay baton in Jesolo, Italy on October 18th.

Running Out of Time, is a 7,767 km non-stop relay organized by the World Relay Ltd. in partnership with the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Carbon Copy, and with the support of UNESCO. The relay made a stop this morning in Jesolo, Italy to raise awareness of the fight against climate change.

The baton carries the message for those world leaders, who from the 7th of November will be gathered in Egypt for COP27. The baton was received by Roberto Bellingardo, the Jesolo marathoner who competed as a disabled athlete among able-bodied athletes, the mayor of the city of Jesolo Christofer De Zotti, local authorities, and FEE Italy President Claudio Mazza.

More than 150 children attended the event, representing the schools of the municipality, all of which are part of the global Eco-Schools programme, FEE's international Education for Sustainable Development programme which engages over 20 million students.

Students of all ages read messages of commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment, against climate change.

Eco-Schools students stand with the mayor of Jesolo and FEE Italy President.

Eco-Schools students await the arrival of the relay baton in Jesolo, Italy.

"This very long race, which is crossing Europe to reach Sharm el-Sheikh on the occasion of the next COP27 meeting,” said Mayor Christofer De Zotti, “Takes on a crucial message for the entire planet - our time is running out. We must act now to ensure an inclusive and sustainable future for all. And Jesolo is one of the sounding boards through which this message is spread. The Jesolo Community is doing its part.”

"Education plays a crucial role in climate action, to overcome the challenges that our planet must face. We talk every day about ecological transition, but first we need to train young citizens to respect the environment and to build a sustainable society, bearing in mind that they will be the future decision makers. Today's relay carries an important message that will be delivered at COP27 and represents a highly symbolic moment of local awareness of the territories it passes through.” said the President of FEE Italy Claudio Mazza.

The relay, divided into 10 km long non-stop stages, is the longest ever attempted with runners, cyclists, and sailors. It kicked off from Glasgow, home of COP26, on September 30th and spans 18 countries to inspire and support local climate action: Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt. It will end in Sharm el-Sheikh on 6 November 2022, for the start of COP27 which will take place from 7 to 18 November 2022.

FEE Italy designated Jesolo as a stage of the relay, since the city has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for Beaches and Landing for 18 years and all its schools implement the international Eco-Schools programme.

Relay Baton Received at UNFCCC Headquarters in Bonn, Germany

14 October, Bonn: Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) President Lesley Jones, Senior Director for Education, Pramod Kumar Sharma and International Coordinator for Education, Kristina Madsen personally delivered the Running Out of Time relay baton to Ina Parvanova, Director of Communications and Engagement at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

After four exciting days during which the relay baton travelled from France to Belgium and through the Netherlands, it crossed into Germany on Thursday night (October 13th) around 8 pm. From there it was carried by runners through the night to reach the UNFCCC headquarters for a short stop before continuing on its journey to COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Carried by Kristina Madsen, International Coordinator for Education at FEE, the relay baton arrived at UNFCCC headquarters in Bonn at around 11:30 on Friday morning. The arrival of the baton was celebrated by representatives of UNFCCC, FEE and its German member organisation the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelterziehung, Germanwatch, and several runners.

Central to the relay is the message in the baton that will be delivered to world leaders at COP27, a call for universal quality climate education, recognizing that education is key to a sustainable future. The relay also serves to highlight people-led climate education initiatives and the work done by local climate education organisations, such as FEE’s member, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelterziehung.

Jens Hepper, teacher and Board Member of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelterziehung succinctly captured the challenges our world faces, saying, “The problems of our time are that we consume too much heat, live in badly insulated houses, burning too much fuel. We throw broken stuff away instead of repairing it. We do not realize that we are living in a global community, depending on each other – every nation, every country.”

FEE has been delivering climate education and Education for Sustainable Development for over 25 years through its three educational programmes, Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment and Learning about Forests. With member organisations in 81 countries around the world, FEE’s programmes have supported the efforts of thousands of climate education practitioners around the world and the message in the baton is of utmost importance for this work to expand.  

Lesley Jones, President of the Foundation for Environmental Education said, “The message is all about the reason why education for climate action is critical for young people, but also for all of us. To understand the issues, to understand what we can do to take climate action and turn the tide on climate change.”

Collaboration between policymakers, international organisations, local civil society organisations and the practitioners on the ground serves to better support the call for universal, quality climate education, lending significance to the message in the baton that will be delivered to world leaders at COP25.

“This relay showcases the power of sport and civic action to drive greater awareness and engagement in villages, towns, capital cities and tourist locations along the relay route, no doubt inspiring local climate action. This is a critical decade for climate action. Governments must implement their pledges and commitments and raise ambition to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees and provide effective response to the global challenge. But to achieve the transformational change that is needed, everyone must be on board. Governments, businesses, investors, non-governmental organisations, and all members of society. We need everyone to know about the drivers and impacts of climate change and how to contribute to achieving a climate resilient and just world,” said Ina Parvanova, Director of Communications and Engagement at UNFCCC.

Ms. Parvanova also shared her thoughts on the message in the relay baton, saying, “On climate education, the message is clear. Climate change needs to be integrated across the full scope of the education curriculum. Climate change is an issue that affects all aspects of our economies and societies, so our education systems need to be preparing children, young people and lifelong learners by delivering quality climate education. And high-quality climate education informed by the best available science as well as, where available,  traditional and Indigenous knowledge, is not an option, but an imperative to strengthen human capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

From Bonn, the relay baton will continue being carried by runners and cyclists through Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. In Greece, the baton will be received by Nikos Petrou, Vice President of FEE and President of FEE’s national member, HSPN. FEE CEO Daniel Shaffer will escort it during its sail to Cyprus and Israel.

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Wins Pratt & Whitney Global E-STEM Award

FEE was chosen for their work to facilitate learning outcomes that support a transition to a circular economy for green transformation.

13 October 2022, Tucson (Arizona, USA): The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) was selected by Pratt & Whitney and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as a winner of the first-ever Pratt & Whitney Global E-STEM Awards. Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, Pratt & Whitney’s chief transformation and strategy officer, bestowed grants totalling $250,000 to 13 nonprofit organizations in 11 countries. Each group demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing environmental, science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) education programs for underrepresented students ages 11–18.

Eco-Schools Project Advancing Circular Economy (E-SPACE) teaches students about the circular economy, renewable energy, and waste reduction. The programme includes lesson plans for teachers in several languages, a chart on strategies to Advance Circular Economy and a curricular framework for Advancing Circular economy.

Each tool has been developed to support E-STEM competencies by enabling learners to acquire literacy in the form of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to take positive actions to reduce waste through the entire lifecycle and not only at the recycling stage. It will also help learners to support scientific temperament on not accepting the status quo and developing the agency for problem-solving by increasing circularity using different strategies.

Finally, the lesson plans promote engineering skills by asking to have choices like the individual's right to repair as an integral principle of a circular economy.  

“The transition towards a Circular Economy requires that we not only look at managing problems downstream but also focus on solutions upstream in the production and consumption systems by reimagining the design of the products and materials used. E-SPACE lesson plans will extend the limited scope of recycling materials initiatives to ultimately question current production and consumption systems by encouraging critical and analytical thinking for problem-solving to promote critical actions based on science at the local level for global issues”, said Daniel Schaffer, CEO of FEE.

The prize will help FEE to expand the initial pilot project to 80 schools in eight countries in South America, Africa, and Asia.

A panel of judges from Pratt & Whitney and NAAEE selected the recipients from a pool of nearly 175 applicants spanning 40 countries who applied between May and July 2022. The winners were announced in Tucson, Arizona, during NAAEE2022 Annual International Conference, with the theme Educating for Change. 

Learn more about all of this year’s winners by reading their biographies: http://prattwhitney.com/ESTEM

Pratt & Whitney’s corporate social responsibility program supports initiatives that emphasize a laser focus on innovation and performance, inspire the next generation, and empower employees to positively impact communities. The company is committed to ensuring that future generations of engines drive further reductions in CO2 emissions, decrease noise, and are ready to operate with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Click here to learn more about the future of sustainable aviation.

Restoring Ecosystems with Little Woodlands in Ireland - An Choill Bheag

Students from Monreagh National School, Co. Donegal, Ireland in their An Choill Bheag

In 2015, Daan Bleichrodt and his team at the Institute for Nature Education (Instituut voor Natuureducatie (IVN)) in the Netherlands planted their first Tiny Forest. Made up of native tree species tucked into an area the size of a tennis court. These Tiny Forests are havens for insects, birds, and small animals.

Inspired by Tiny Forests in the Netherlands, the first little woodlands or Na Coillte Beaga were established in Ireland in 2018 as part of the Learning about Forests (LEAF) programme. An Choill Bheag (Irish for little woodlands) and LEAF are run by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in Ireland. An Choill Bheag is a small, dense, biodiverse native woodland habitat planted on school, business, or community grounds, providing an educational and recreational resource, enabling people to participate in Biodiversity & Climate Action, Citizen Science, Woodland Skills, Nature Connection and Wellbeing.

LEAF Ireland has planted twenty little woodlands to date (approximately 3,350 trees). Activities around these ‘little woodlands’ have involved over 2,000 individuals from 11 primary schools, six secondary schools, a Teacher Training 3rd Level College and two community groups. LEAF Ireland has also developed a range of educational resources to help support and guide the schools and community groups.

These native woodlands contribute to well-being and rapidly increase the amount of biodiversity, including bird and pollinator life, in the area. Once the trees are planted, schools and community groups are encouraged to introduce understory plants that further increase biodiversity.  Schools and community groups are encouraged to use dead logs to create seating areas, while natural log piles are a great way to create habitats and perimeter edgings.

The importance of hedgerows is also addressed, if space is limited, a hedgerow can be a great option. Hedgerows can connect fragmented habitats. Connecting woodlands is key to promoting a healthy genetic diversity of plants and animals, which in turn contributes to improving ecosystems' resilience to disturbances.

These woodlands (& hedgerows) provide places for students, teachers, and community groups to explore and interact with nature. In a school setting these ‘little woodlands’ create the perfect outdoor classroom for learning about plants, trees, birds, and other wild creatures.

“Our Choill Bheag is a place of fun, enjoyment, learning and celebration. The long-term legacy of the forest will last for years. The students and staff who were lucky enough to be part of this project four years ago will always remember that they planted a forest and maybe as adults, they will come back and visit. For the future generations of children who will attend our school, the forest will stand tall and grow with these children for many years to come. If any school has the green space to plant a little woodland our school would highly recommend the project. We have benefitted immeasurably from all the wonderful experiences that come from having a Choill Bheag.”

Yvonne Briody & Paula Howard, Teachers at Limerick Educate Together

In 2021, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), alongside the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), launched the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a “rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature.” Despite their smaller size, An Choill Bheag presents a healthier and more biodiverse alternative to the trimmed lawns and concrete slabs that are so often seen on school grounds. They provide an opportunity to educate the next generation of nature restorers with hands-on knowledge and skills of natural spaces and encourage educators to use nature as a classroom. It is now more important than ever to support and upscale initiatives such as Choill Bheag to achieve the UN Decade’s critical goals of counteracting climate change and stopping the collapse of biodiversity. If you would like to learn more about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and how you can get involved, please go here.  

This is the first article in a series highlighting ecosystem restoration contributions by Foundation for Environmental Education members.

European Commission, FEE and GoodPlanet Belgium welcome the Running Out of Time baton in Brussels!

11 October 2022, Brussel: On Tuesday 11 October, the Running Out of Time relay passed through Brussels, Belgium where representatives from GoodPlanet Belgium, member of the Foundation for Environmental Education, the European Commission and former FEE President Jan Eriksen were present to welcome the relay baton. 

After a 10 day 1,676km journey through Scotland, Wales and England carried by runners and cyclists, the relay baton arrived at the shore of France on Sunday, October 9th, its safe crossing of the English Channel ensured by rowers, sailors and windsurfers working together. That baton was carried through France with the support of our partner, the Office for Climate Education, arriving in Belgium on Monday afternoon.

As the seat of the European Union and the European Commission, Brussels is a significant stage along the relay route, and it was an honour to have Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit – Schools and Multilingualism from the European Commission participate in the baton handover event. The European Commission schools policy team joined the event to show their support for the initiative. Mr. Teutsch spoke about the work underway to foster closer cooperation between EU countries on sustainability in education and training.  

Jan Eriksen, Former President of the Foundation for Environmental Education was also present and reiterated the importance of universal, quality climate education and highlighted that to ensure equitable access to it for all we must involve stakeholders at every level from children and youth, teachers, local and national initiatives and policy makers to global networks and institutional policy development programmes and agencies: “FEE represents a global network of civil society practitioners, with dedicated members such as GoodPlanet Belgium, that have significant experience implementing climate education on the ground. The European Commission facilitates the global discussion, developing tools and supporting action plans that address climate change at the European level. Partnerships and dialogue between global or regional stakeholders such as the Commission and grassroot initiatives such as Running Out of Time, offer an opportunity to develop global policies and actions that better support the efforts of civil society actors, and help grassroot initiatives identify where they can achieve the greatest impact and encourage positive change.” 

Key to the success of the Running Out of Time relay in Belgium has been the support of the FEE member, GoodPlanet Belgium. GoodPlanet Belgium is responsible for running the Green Key, Blue Flag and YRE programmes in Belgium, and the Eco-Schools programme in Brussels and Wallonia. For over 20 years, GoodPlanet Belgium has been contributing to sustainable development in Belgium through projects, campaigns and climate education.

Students from local schools were also present to celebrate the arrival of the baton.

"Environmental education has been at the heart of our work for 25 years. Every year, we visit 3,500 schools from kindergarten to university throughout Belgium. We sincerely believe that children need to be given the keys to understand the climate issues so that they can act at their own level and contribute to the transition to a more sustainable society. Next to education, we also help and encourage the implementation of concrete actions such as the creation of school streets, greener playgrounds, or sustainable canteens.”  - Jo Van Cauwenberge, Director of GoodPlanet Belgium

The baton continues along the route, with a handover planned in Bonn, where it will be welcomed on October 14 by representatives of the UNFCCC in the presence of FEE President, Lesley Jones.

Young Reporters on the Route: Relay hits Grow 73!

By Isabelle Mack, Age 11, Young Reporter for the Environment, Scotland

Running Out Of Time is going from COP26 Scotland to COP27 in Egypt. Runners, cyclists and sailors passing through lots of places in the UK to show the baton which carries an important inspiring message inside. Running Out of Time is on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @climaterelay.

Due to weather conditions, the relay took off at Sunnyside Primary instead of Glasgow Green. The runners did fantastically, they were 3 minutes late but very determined on making up the time to get to Boswell community garden.

Grow 73 is in Rutherglen, in the south of Glasgow. It’s a community garden open to the public to come along and do some gardening. There’s a wide range of ages helping out. Grow 73 all about growing food, growing the community and growing diversity.

One of the runners, Kenny Alexander, had finished running for the relay while the other 2 went on. Kenny started at the Peoples Palace to Grow 73! Kenny ran because he wanted to apologise to me and my generation having to live in such a horrible world that adults are handing over too us. He hopes that at COP27 world leaders will have seen the changes in our climate due to climate change and will make adult decisions and take action now. He said “NO MORE BLAH BLAH, some actual changes!”

I spoke to Barbra who tried to come as much as she could when she has free time and hoping to come more regularly. She thinks that climate change is a huge issue and makes sure she puts her rubbish in the correct bin. Although it’s only a small change it makes a big difference and if everyone did that the world would be a much better place.

Lesley Jones is the President of FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). FEE is an NGO and one of the world’s largest organisations for education for the sustainable development. It’s active in 81 countries! Lesley is also the Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy.

Lesley Jones was at Grow 73!!! Lesley said “FEE was created 40 years ago by a couple of people that had visited a big conference about the importance of environmental education in 1977. The 4 people that went came back demanded the UK need to do something about this. They’d bring people together and explain why we need to change. 30 years ago France created a program called Blue Flag. France thought it would be better if it wasn’t just run in France, so many other countries joined in including Scotland and Wales. She hopes that at COP27 things will actually start happening now and we’ll see the changes, businesses need to be forced to make a difference and of course raise awareness to everyone so everyone can make a difference”.

Susie from Community Rails came to Grow 73 to share why it’s good to take the train and how it’s more sustainable too take the train and to chat to people, become a part a community. She said people can make smarter but simple changes in their life; take the train, plant more plants, recycle and tell others ways to recycle.

I spoke to Eugenie the co-founder of Grow 73. She said, “Grow 73 tackles climate by using what they can find so recycling old materials”.

Not only was it a more sustainable way it was a cheaper way as they didn’t have much money but a lot of old materials. There’s all old barrows to planet things in, there’s old telephone poles they’re planning on cutting so can make a fence. She tries to get people outside but it can be hard as some children think if there isn’t a swing there’s nothing to do outside. But once you get people out they really enjoying chatting and playing. She hopes that people will see potential like she did when she saw the old piece of locked up landed that’s turned into Grow 73. Everyone can make difference even if you’re really struggling with money, whether it’s turning an old whisky barrel into a plant pot. You don’t have to be a professional gardener to plant a potato.

If you’re in the area I definitely would recommend visiting Grow 73! It’s such a positive safe place to go a relax but still be proactive.

About Isabelle

“My name is Isabelle, I am eleven and live in Stow in the Scottish Borders. I was born in France and moved to Scotland when I was four. My primary school was very active in promoting Learning for Sustainability which inspired my interest in climate action. I enjoy using persuasive writing to encourage others including world leaders to make a difference and change the world. I’ve had replies from Nicola Sturgeon, Netta Meadows (the chief executive of my local authority), Jane Goodall and a handwritten letter from David Attenborough!”

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Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Scotland, the YRE programme is coordinated by our member, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Universalization of Quality Climate Education

Where are we and where do we go from here? 

#HelpUsGetThere

10th October I 15:00-16:30 CEST

We are Running Out of Time.

Quality climate education is critical if we are to equip people of all ages with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a future in which all can thrive. 

Young people need to be recognised as leaders, placed at the forefront of the conversation about climate change and empowered through education. 

We are calling on the world’s leaders to provide us with the skills and training to build a sustainable world. 

Our world is warming and to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees, we need forward thinking, consistent policies and funding to help us reach Net Zero Emissions. 

We are committed to help build a future that is inclusive and sustainable for all. 

Show by your actions, not just words, that you are too. 

Help us get there! 

This is the message that will be sealed in the Running Out of Time baton on the 30th of September in Glasgow, Scotland and carried by thousands of runners, cyclists, and sailors through 18 countries to decision-makers at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.  

In this webinar, you will hear from leading organisations and departments in the field of climate change education, including UN agencies, ministries, and global NGOs. You will learn about the many efforts already being taken to secure universal climate education – and the obstacles we still need to overcome. 

Speakers

Pramod Kumar Sharma - Senior Director of Education, Foundation for Environmental Education

Deirdre Hodson - Policy Officer, School Education Policy, European Commission

Won Jung Byon - Programme Specialist, Section of Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO

Ewurasi Nnadozie - Head of International, Comms and Events, Sustainability and Climate Change Unit, UK Department of Education

Fleur Newman - Unit Lead, Action for Climate Empowerment, UNFCCC

Kathleen Rogers - President, Earthday.org

Registration 

Climate change affects us all, meaning that this webinar is relevant to everyone! 500 people will be able to join online. Secure your spot here:  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The webinar will also be livestreamed on YouTube. 

Generation Restoration Boosting Biodiversity: Best Practices from Schools Around the World

The results from the Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Best Practice Competition are here! The five winning Best Practices display inspiring initiatives from schools around the world that have engaged students and teachers in actions to protect biodiversity.  

Schools, hospitality establishments, beaches and marinas from FEE’s global network were invited to present one project or story connected with FEE’s GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity goals: 

• Preserving existing and creating new forests or natural areas; 

• Promoting sustainable management of the coastal zone; 

• Combatting pollinator and insect loss; 

• Raising awareness of and supporting actions to remove invasive alien species. 

In total, schools from 41 countries submitted their biodiversity projects as part of the GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Campaign! Keep reading to learn about the five best practices from FEE’s global school network.   

The selected stories are coming from The Bahamas, Cyprus, Germany, India and Spain. They showcase impactful initiatives, from the installation of hydroponics garden to the planting of more than 3,000 trees. Students engaged in these projects developed great skills and knowledge on climate action and biodiversity conservation. Their work contributed to boosting biodiversity, raising awareness on ecosystems protection and creating meaningful, long-lasting projects! As shown in the following best practices, taking action for biodiversity is not only essential for sustaining healthy natural areas, but also healthy communities. 

Vertical Hydroponics Garden: Increasing the Resiliency of Infrastructure in an Eco-School Environment to Combat the threats of Climate Change  

Bishop Michael Eldon School, The Bahamas 

The project aimed to promote food security, healthy lifestyle, modern farming techniques and sustainability under the School Feeding Program 2021 launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources of The Bahamas. The project has promoted hydroponics harvesting skills among the students as well as a mind shift on farming and agriculture. 

Lythrodontas Forest, Flora and Fauna (LYF)

Nipiagogio Lythrodonta School, Cyprus

The main goal of the project was to acquaint the children with knowledge about the local biodiversity, whilst instil the sense that even small actions from a small school can make a significant difference in the protection of the local biodiversity. The project gathered students with people from various professional sectors and services on a common goal.

A School Garden for Wildlife and Pupils

Rainald-von-Dassel-School, Germany

The school saw an opportunity to make students experience wildlife with hands-on experience. In two years, they managed to create an entire pollinator garden with a pond and plant fruit trees around the school. The activities engaged students and their families, as well as locals, that were eager to take part in this project.

Be Keen to Make the Earth Green

Delhi Public School, Nadergul, India

This huge project gathered more than 2500 students around the goal of making the school premises green. Within five years, the school planted 3000 trees and created several gardens that developed the students' skills in gardening and collaborative work. The Green Crusaders, a committee of the school’s staff and students, handled implementing 11 projects in total.

Forest Restoration and Biodiversity in Monte da Fraga

Universidade da Coruña, Spain

Photo by: ADEGA-GN Hábitat-OMA UDC.

The forest area between the two Campuses was transformed from an abandoned natural space to a place filled with native species. The long-term restoration project increased awareness about biodiversity protection and helped volunteers gain skills in the management of organic waste, reforestation and even water management!

Congratulations to the dedicated students, teachers and schools working to promote biodiversity in their community!

FEE is proud to highlight these inspiring and exemplary stories from our network. By sharing such stories, we hope that it serves to support more schools around the world in engaging in biodiversity protection.

FEE x Running Out of Time

Runner Registration Opens for Climate Relay to COP27 ‘Running Out of Time’

FEE is proud to be supporting the Running Out of Time relay; a 7,767km, 38-day run, crossing 18 countries between Glasgow and Sharm el-Sheikh. The world’s longest ever non-stop relay to take place in the name of climate action!

Registration opens today for runners to sign up for a stage of Running Out of Time, an extraordinary 7,767km, non-stop relay from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host) in the name of climate action. 

Running Out of Time will be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted with runners passing a baton containing a powerful climate change message from young people to the decision-makers at COP27. Organised by The World Relay Ltd, the relay route is split into 685 stages that are around 10km each which runners can sign up for. The relay runs day and night for 38 days and travels to 18 countries. 

The relay will begin with an opening ceremony in COP26 host city Glasgow on September 30th 2022 – where the message will be sealed in the baton. Carried by runners, cyclists and sailors, it will journey through Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 6th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 6th-18th November 2022.

Along the route the baton will cross seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, villages, towns and capital cities. It will visit hundreds of schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects to inspire and champion local climate action. Running Out of Time will also be fundraising for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy. 

Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder Danny Bent says “Extraordinary change requires extraordinary effort - it’s everything Running Out of Time is about. We want everyone that’s passionate about climate change and our planet to sign up for a stage of the relay and help us deliver a powerful message with so much support that it is impossible to ignore”.

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collaborative effort of a great many partners and supporters.

During the relay up to a million pupils from around the world will be brought together for a Schools Action Day on 3rd November - an exciting virtual programme that champions climate change solutions while empowering young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning.

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won’t miss out! They’re invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay on November 5th 2022 which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in the name of climate action. 

Register to take part: www.running-out-of-time.com  

KEY DATES

Registration Opens: June 22nd 2022 // Relay start date: Friday 30th September 2022, Glasgow, Scotland. Opening ceremony in collaboration with Glasgow City Council // Schools Action Day Thursday 3rd November // Global virtual relay: Saturday 5th November 2022  // Relay end date: Sunday 6th November 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

WEBSITE: www.running-out-of-time.com 

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collective effort of a great many partners and supporters.

About The World Relay Ltd are multi-award winning global leaders in mass participation relays best known for their One Run series. Co-Founded by runners, adventurers and Guinness World Record holders Danny Bent and James Hay, their mission started in 2013 with One Run for Boston; a non-stop relay across the US on behalf of the victims of the Boston marathon bombings. Since then they’ve organised relays all over the world including relays across the USA and two non-stop month-long relays in London. Awarded honours for these events include Runner's World 'Heroes of Running'. Over 200k runners have participated in One Run relays raising over £1.9 million for good causes.In 2021, 165 000 students and runners from 195 countries came together for global unity in the One Run Global Relay – a 24 hour virtual relay around the world.  www.theworldrelay.com  

One Run (@onerun_global) • Instagram  / One Run - Home | Facebook  / One Run Global (@OneRunGlobal) / Twitter 

About Danny Bent - Danny was voted one of the 100 happiest people in the UK and one of the 50 most inspirational people in London. He is an award winning author and journalist, Guinness World Record holder, and celebrated adventurer and community leader. www.dannybent.com Danny Bent, Running Out of Time’s Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder says “We are so super proud to have this opportunity to amplify the voice of our youth and to help raise awareness of the climate crisis. We want to show what can be achieved if we all work together - a symbol to today’s decision makers who hold the key to a unified solution.”

About Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries and a network of over 60,000 educational institutions. http://www.fee.global/ 

About Carbon Copy is a UK charity that inspires big-thinking local climate action to accelerate our progress towards a fairer, carbon zero future. https://carboncopy.eco/  

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visits FEE Member Organisation in Rwanda to learn about a collaborative landscape restoration project

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting took place in Kigali, Rwanda, from June 20th to June 22nd, 2022. As part of the meeting, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited a landscape collaborative restoration site in Kigali overseen by the Abertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) – a new associate member of FEE.  

The site in Kigali has done a lot to restore degraded wetlands into healthy ecosystems. This progress would not have happened without the work of local communities. The tree nursery that His Royal Highness and ARCOS visited is managed by a local community cooperative. They are growing an impressive diversity of trees and indigenous species playing an important role in landscape restoration. ARCOS is working with a total of 730 communities to restore their region's landscapes. Their actions include shifting to organic fertiliser for the soil's health, planting native species to increase biodiversity, and raising awareness in communities for nature restoration. 
 

"For over 20 years, the district of Bugesera experienced deforestation, severe drought and other climate change effects that led to extreme food shortage, loss of biodiversity and water resources across many freshwater ecosystems, including Lake Cyohoha North. The remarkable results we see on this site need to be replicated."

- Hon Minister of Environment, Dr Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya. 

Celebrating World Environment Day with Lessons from Teachers in Biodiversity Education

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2022, we are happy to announce the results of the GAIA’s 20:30 Biodiversity Lesson Plan Competition. These lesson plans will help teachers with activities to engage the youth in biodiversity conservation actions.

As part of the GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Campaign, teachers from all over the world were invited to develop, test, and submit Biodiversity Lesson Plans with a focus on: 

• Promoting sustainable management of the coastal zone. 

• Preserving existing and creating new forests or natural areas. 

• Combating pollinator and insect loss. 

• Raising awareness of and supporting actions to remove invasive alien species. 

Teachers from 15 countries submitted Lesson Plans!

The shortlisted lesson plans promoting active learning on the topic of biodiversity were assessed by a jury of experts. Scroll below to discover the four awarded GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Lesson Plans.

Let’s Protect Our Seas and Coasts - Lesson Plan created by Gülgün Çakmak, Turkey

This lesson plan aims to help the students realise the importance of rich coastal biodiversity and its role in sustainable coastal ecosystem management. The lesson equips the learners in identifying the threats to biodiversity in coastal areas and understanding the impact of climate change and human activity.

Forest Domino - Lesson Plan created by Sanita Leja, Latvia

With this lesson plan, students will expand their familiarity with forest biodiversity and implement their observations to create content for an environmental game.

Inviting Pollinators to the Schoolyard - Lesson Plan created by Vitor Martins and Maria José Araújo, Portugal

The goal of this lesson plan is to enable students to identify the factors necessary for pollinators and plants to survive. They also better understand the importance of pollination for the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems.

#GreenHeart - Lesson Plan created by Jens Hepper, Germany

The Lesson Plan focuses on teaching about natural succession, the importance of making space for biodiversity to thrive by itself and the utility of hedges to further ecosystems.

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Congratulations to the winners for their Lesson Plans!  

FEE is very thankful for the well-constructed educational materials that will help teachers around the world. Keep an eye on the publication that will collate all the shortlisted lesson plans and get inspired to transform the youth for Biodiversity Conservation!

Press Release - ‘Running Out of Time’ the World’s Longest Non-Stop Relay Announced in the Name of Climate Action

Extraordinary change requires extraordinary effort.

Saturday 7th May 2022, London: Today, to mark the six month countdown to COP27, mass-participation relay organisers The World Relay announce Running Out of Time, a 7,200km, 38-day, non-stop relay from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host) in the name of climate action, inviting runners to register to take part and pass the baton.

Broken down into 10km stages, it will be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted with runners, cyclists and sailors working together to pass a baton containing a powerful climate message from young people to the decision makers at COP27.

The impact of climate change on our planet will be felt most by our youth and future generations. Their collective voice needs to be heard. The aim is to deliver their message with so much support that it is impossible to ignore.

From the opening ceremony in COP26 host city Glasgow on September 30th 2022 – where the message will be sealed in the baton - the relay will journey through 18 countries - UK (Scotland, Wales, England), France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 6th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 7th-18th November 2022.

Danny Bent, Running Out of Time’s Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder says “We are so super proud to have this opportunity to amplify the voice of our youth and to help raise awareness of the climate crisis. We want to show what can be achieved if we all work together - a symbol to today’s decision makers who hold the key to a unified solution.”

Along the extraordinary route, the baton will cross seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts and visit schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects meeting scientists, engineers and designers at the forefront of the green revolution to better understand what is happening to our planet and to inspire local climate action. Running Out of Time will also be fundraising for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy.

Ric Casale, Co Founder, Carbon Copy says “Carbon Copy is delighted to team up with One Run for this extraordinary event. The relay is so symbolic of the ambition and collaboration we wish to see at COP27, and that we already see in the people working together locally to address the biodiversity and climate crises. This relay will also be a common thread that links thousands of inspiring climate action stories, showcasing leadership at all levels and encouraging more people to join in by doing something similar. Collective local climate action is having an impact globally, and we look forward to taking these stories to COP27 and sharing them with governments from around the world.”

During the relay up to a million pupils from around the world will be brought together for a Global Schools Day - an exciting virtual programme that champions climate change solutions while empowering young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning.

Lesley Jones, President, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) says “At a time where climate change is an increasingly urgent cross-cutting issue, FEE has chosen to prioritise climate action as part of its ten-year strategy, GAIA 20:30. There are many pathways to mitigating the impacts of climate change, and we believe that education and collaboration play crucial roles in driving climate action to overcome the challenges facing our planet. It has to be education that shows and guides us to positive solutions. The Running Out Of Time relay will not only connect those people along the route from Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh, but bring us all together to address a problem on a global scale. We are hopeful and excited for the relay baton to become a rallying point and a call for quality climate change education around the world.”

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won’t miss out. They’re invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in a demonstration of togetherness and radical inclusivity in the name of climate action.

The general public can register to take part and pass the baton from May 7th via www.running-out-of-time.com  and will be invited to select their chosen 10km stage in June.

Editor Notes

Media contact: Larissa Clark info@thischapter.co.uk +47 46852672 (Oslo) for more information, interviews and press hosting opportunities. Press images: available via LINK

KEY DATES

Register your interest to run: from May 7th 2022 // Relay start date: Friday 30th September 2022, Glasgow, Scotland. Opening ceremony in collaboration with Glasgow City Council // Global virtual relay: Saturday 5th November 2022  // Relay end date: Sunday 6th November 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

KEY FACTS

Duration: 38 days // Distance: 7,200km // Number of stages: 685 // Distance per stage 10km // Countries: 18

WEBSITE: www.running-out-of-time.com

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collective effort of a great many partners and supporters. The full list of supporting organisations will be made available in June 2022.

About The World Relay Ltd are multi-award winning global leaders in mass participation relays best known for their One Run series. Co-Founded by runners, adventurers and Guinness World Record holders Danny Bent and James Hay, their mission started in 2013 with One Run for Boston; a non-stop relay across the US on behalf of the victims of the Boston marathon bombings. Since then they’ve organised relays all over the world including relays across the USA and two non-stop month-long relays in London. Awarded honours for these events include Runner's World 'Heroes of Running'. Over 200k runners have participated in One Run relays raising over £1.9 million for good causes.In 2021, 165 000 students and runners from 195 countries came together for global unity in the One Run Global Relay – a 24 hour virtual relay around the world.  www.theworldrelay.com 

One Run (@onerun_global) • Instagram  / One Run - Home | Facebook  / One Run Global (@OneRunGlobal) / Twitter

About Danny Bent - Danny was voted one of the 100 happiest people in the UK and one of the 50 most inspirational people in London. He is an award winning author and journalist, Guinness World Record holder, and celebrated adventurer and community leader. www.dannybent.com

Carbon Copy is a UK charity that inspires big-thinking local climate action to accelerate our progress towards a fairer, carbon zero future. https://carboncopy.eco/  

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries and a network of over 60,000 educational institutions. http://www.fee.global/

Global Action Days 2022 #MyActionsMatter

From the 20th to the 30th of April, students, teachers, families, companies and more participated in 10 days of individual and collective actions for the environment!

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) operates five programmes focused on promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through environmental education and eco-tourism. Apart from the day-to-day activities that contribute to the creation of a worldwide network, the strategic goal GAIA 20:30 was developed to further guide FEE's work and address three critical environmental issues: climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.

As part of the GAIA 20:30 strategy, this year's #GlobalActionDays engaged our global network in actions for the protection, restoration and celebration of global biodiversity.

With 1312 registrations and over 150,000 participants from 73 countries, this year's Global Action Days has been the largest yet!

Occurring over 10 days, the campaign invited participants to join in five actions for biodiversity! From Nature Dipping to Having a Green Party, these actions aimed to raise awareness and discover new ways of being positively involved in the protection and restoration of global biodiversity. Participants shared their work via social media and on the Treasure Earth app with the Global Action Days hashtags: #GlobalActionDays #MyActionsMatter #LitterLessCampaign #GAIA2030 #GenerationRestoration.

Action 1 – Nature Dipping! A 10-minute walk in a green space to relax, breathe, and listen to the surroundings.

Action 2 – Nature Detectives! Getting outside to identify some native plants and wildflowers from the country or region.

Action 3 – Life in Danger! Choosing an endangered species and thinking about a way to help raise awareness about it in the local community.

Action 4 – Look for Labels! Taking a look around the kitchen to see how many environmental labels it's possible to find on food-products.

Action 5 – Have a Green Party! Pulling on a green outfit and engaging in a collective action : joining a litter pick, planting native flowers, or building an insect hotel.

Great initiatives from this year's Global Action Days!

Second grade students from Green Oaks School in Mexico and their teachers participated in Global Action Days by organising a beach clean-up! As part of their Social Service activities, the clean-up aimed to raise awareness among students about caring for the environment. As part of the global Eco-Schools programme, this activity strengthened the environmental awareness of their school community.

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A post shared by Green Oaks School (@green_oaks_school)

An amazing Green Party was organised for Kindergarten students of the J-Trail Department at Aljazari International Schools of Science and Technology in Istanbul! The Action 5 of Global Action Days was well celebrated in this school with flower planting and nature exploration. With this "Forest in Schools" party, they wanted to raise awareness for the international movement and to strengthen the relations between students and nature.

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A post shared by Aljazari Schools KG (@kg_aljazari)

The FEE Head Office participated in #GlobalActionDays too!

To celebrate Global Action Days, the staff of the FEE Head Office in Copenhagen organised a litter-picking Green Party around the office! In 1.5 hours, our staff managed to fill over three large bags of garbage! A large quantity of cigarette butts were also collected and sorted separately. During the litter pick-up, staff also participated in a biodiversity scavenger hunt where they had to find and identify native plant and insect species as part of Action 2. The Green Party was a great opportunity to reduce the litter in our environment and reflect on how it negatively impacts the local biodiversity, while also helping us reconnect with the nature right outside the office door!

FEE Joins COP26 in Glasgow, UK!

Event: Climate Action – Harnessing the Power of Networks!

The theme of COP 26, ‘Together for Our Planet’ provides an important platform to showcase the impacts being created by the network of FEE and explain how each programme is driving the agenda of Climate Action. FEE has prioritised Climate Change, along with Biodiversity Loss and Pollution, as key areas of urgent action for its 10-year strategy – GAIA 20:30.

Through panel presentations, the event will showcase stories of positive actions from around the world. It will bring together voices of different stakeholders such as youth leaders from Eco-Schools, managers of Green Key awarded establishments, municipalities with Blue Flag accredited sites, and Young Reporters for the Environment. It will connect the global impact FEE is creating through stories of change supported by local examples from stakeholders from the UK.

Keynote – Ms Lesley Jones, President FEE
Session Moderator – Mr Daniel Schaffer, CEO FEE

COP26 is hosting a YRE Exhibition!

COP26 will host a YRE exhibition with the work of young people between the age of 11-25 awarded at the YRE international competition held each year. The YRE programme is implemented in 44 countries around the world, and gives young people a platform to take an educated stand on environmental issues they feel strongly about and to articulate these issues through the media of writing, photography or video. By engaging YRE students with real-life issues and solutions, they go through an important learning process and develop leadership and journalistic skills to influence others in their network. This exhibition shows how YRE students use their voices to help create positive change for the environment.   

Here you can see an overview of the 10 photographers and their pictures that are part of the exhibition: 

FEE Joins Celebrations of This Year’s World Tourism Day on ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

On this World Tourism Day, which is dedicated to tourism’s potential to foster and promote inclusive growth, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is celebrating the achievements of its two tourism-related programmes, Blue Flag and Green Key, and their contribution to increasing inclusivity in the tourism sector.

Daniel Schaffer, CEO of FEE

Official message from the Foundation for Environmental Education’s CEO, Daniel Schaffer

As the world’s largest environmental education organisation, with members of all shapes and sizes in every corner of the world, inclusiveness is not only a core value for FEE but also a precondition for the sustainable development of our programmes. By involving multi-stakeholder approaches in our processes and including the voices of different interest groups, our programmes can ensure the long-term success of sustainable tourism development within local communities.

However, we believe that this does not only apply to our programmes, but to the tourism sector in general. Only if we strive for inclusive decision-making processes and empower all members of society can the positive economic and social benefits of tourism really be available to the whole community.

An example of inclusiveness through FEE’s Blue Flag programme is its work with accessibility organisations to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy both the economic and recreational benefits of tourism. For example, the Paradisus brand, manager of two Blue Flag awarded beaches in the Dominican Republic, implemented an inclusion programme that gives work opportunities to people with hearing, visual or motor disabilities, while the programme in South Africa initiated the “Beach Stewards” project for the development and skills-training of unemployed youth for future employment in the eco-tourism sector. Furthermore, the Blue Flag programme promotes accessibility on beaches to make sure that everyone can enjoy them safely.

Photo credit: WESSA

In light of the latest global events, we have once again realised how important the tourism industry is and how many livelihoods directly and indirectly depend on it. Sadly, we have also once again come to witness that the impact of these kinds of events is worst for the most vulnerable members of society. A thriving, strong community must practice an inclusive approach that takes all its members into account and allows them to have a stake in decision-making.  

Similar to how the pandemic affected the most vulnerable groups, so do the critical issues of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which are at the heart of FEE’s GAIA 20:30 strategy to drive positive change over the next decade. At FEE it is our mission to empower people of all ages, genders, abilities, and classes to be part of the solution and build a future that benefits everyone.

A recent example of how FEE empowers people through education is our project on Education for Sustainable Development in the tourism sector. Within the scope of this project, hospitality professionals in Cambodia received training on sustainable practices to build their capacity to create a positive impact on the local community through their businesses. It was carried out through the Green Key programme in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Changing mindsets about inclusivity and tackling the challenges presented in FEE's GAIA 20:30 strategy, through either top-down processes or through grassroot initiatives, requires educational tools and resources for many different audiences.  FEE recognises that education is an essential element for driving positive change and will continue to embed education in all its programmes and initiatives.

FEE Launches GAIA 20:30 Strategy to Address the Climate Crisis and Drive Positive Action on Critical Environmental Issues

At the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) General Assembly on 17 June 2021, representatives from the global network of FEE member organisations officially ratified the GAIA 20:30 strategy. GAIA 20:30 is FEE’s pledge to address the three most urgent environmental threats to our planet over the coming decade – climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. The ratification of GAIA 20:30 also coincides with FEE’s 40th Anniversary and illustrates the organisation’s commitment to adapt to the environmental challenges that will face future generations.

This photo from a Young Reporters for the Environment student in Montenegro was chosen as Photo of the Year in the 2021 YRE International Competition. It highlights the need for climate action as outlined in the GAIA 20:30 strategy.

“There is a pressing need to prioritise the Foundation for Environmental Education’s finite resources to focus on the three key environmental issues facing our planet today: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Environmental Pollution - which are intrinsically linked with one another and to the future of our planet. With 40 years of impactful experience in the fields of Education for Sustainable Development and sustainable management, and the established wide-reaching global network of member organisations managing and disseminating our programmes around the world, it is clear to us that the Foundation for Environmental Education has an important role to play in addressing these most critical environmental challenges of our time.”

— Lesley Jones, President of FEE

A photo from the 2017 YRE International Competition by a student in Slovakia illustrates how FEE and GAIA 20:30 empower young people to take action on pollution issues in their communities.  

The development of what would become GAIA 20:30 began in September 2019, when the FEE Board of Directors made the decision, following the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, to develop a new strategic plan for the coming decade focused on these three key environmental themes.

Following a thorough process that engaged top-level experts and representatives from FEE’s members and partners around the world, the strategy was refined down to three specific goals and 12 sub-goals crafted to maximise FEE’s positive impact on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The three primary strategic goals that will define FEE’s work over the next ten years and beyond are: Empower Climate Action, Protect Global Biodiversity and Reduce Environmental Pollution.

GAIA 20:30 is defined by three overarching goals and 12 sub-goals

Once the strategic goals were determined, the FEE Head Office and Board of Directors poured extensive work into creating a detailed strategic plan, action plans and targets for driving real and lasting progress towards the goals in the years to come. The result is GAIA 20:30 – FEE’s commitment to take action to ensure a healthy, equitable and sustainable world for this and future generations.

FEE has a unique position as a global leader in environmental education and sustainable tourism to effect positive change through multiple stakeholders and methodologies. The three school-based programmes, Eco-Schools, Learning about Forests (LEAF) and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), engage over 20 million young people in environmental education and positive action each year, and the highly respected and recognised Blue Flag and Green Key tourism eco-award programmes reach millions more around the world.

GAIA 20:30 includes actions to connect young people with nature and teach them about the importance of biodiversity, with the aim of shaping a new generation of environmental leaders.

By harnessing the power of its global network, FEE will implement GAIA 20:30 through actions that have lasting environmental, societal and economic benefits. The actions driven by GAIA 20:30 will see FEE empower its audiences through education, enable advocacy for positive change at all levels, execute projects that promote the strategic goals, pursue and strengthen collaborative institutional and corporate partnerships, support members affected by environmental challenges and demonstrate operational accountability through a rigorous internal sustainability policy.

GAIA 20:30 has already begun to inform the focus and direction of FEE’s work around the world, such as through the LEAF Biodiversity Campaign, and will continue to be implemented, monitored and evaluated over the next decade. To learn more about GAIA 20:30 and view the full strategic plan, visit www.fee.global/gaia2030.

About the Foundation for Environmental Education

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world’s largest environmental education organisation - active in over 100 countries around the world. Through our five ground-breaking programmes and one carbon compensation initiative, we empower people through global environmental education to take meaningful and purposeful action to help create a more sustainable planet. FEE is an umbrella organisation overseeing a global network of one or more NGO member organisations in each member country. Our educational programmes, Eco-Schools, Learning about Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), use a solution-based approach to empower young people to create a more environmentally conscious world. Our Green Key and Blue Flag initiatives are known across the world for their promotion of sustainable business practices and the protection of our valuable natural resources.