Schools provide lessons on how to tackle effects of climate change

20-11-2014
 

Schools around Johannesburg have joined the war against climate change challenges.
 

The Climate Proofing Project, which is run and managed by non-governmental organisation Green Beings in partnership with the City of Johannesburg, intends turning schools into eco-friendly institutions with an integrated learning curriculum.
 

The pilot project, which is already in its second phase, involves the promotion of the usage of biogas; the establishment of food gardens; and the provision of waste recycling units, solar water heaters and retro-fitting energy saving light bulbs.

Also of significance is its promotion of rain water collection initiatives.
 

The City of Johannesburg has, through its Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, made a commitment to reducing the City’s vulnerability to climate change.

Some of the initiatives involve introducing water and energy consumption reduction measures in the City’s households and schools.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe says schoolchildren are critical role players in the fight against the effects of climate change as they are the future custodians of the world, hence their being at the forefront of the battle against climate change challenges.
 

“They have to take the baton at a very early age because deserve to inherit a city that is free of carbon gas emissions,” says the MMC.

The project also provides schools with the opportunity to involve local communities in growing vegetables and harvesting rain water. 

The project has been proposed to run for three months and encompasses the:

Establishment of 10 food gardens, each with an irrigation system and a composting site;

Provision of 60 two-bin separation systems and six waste recycling units;

Supply of 10 rain water collection units in schools; 

 Provision of 10 biogas units with tanks, piping, materials and tools;

Provision of energy-saving retrofit and light bulbs; and

Supply of 20 solar water heaters, 20 gas cylinder and 20 stoves.

More than 1 000 fruit trees are to be planted in schools in each region.

The project’s benefits include the protection of the environment and mitigating climate change through renewable energy generation and reduction in South Africa’s over-dependency on coal.

The project will be implemented in 10 schools – five winning schools in the Bontle Ke Botho Clean and Green Competition, and five of the runner-up schools that took part in the first phase of the school’s Climate Proofing Competition. 

The objective is to develop the schools to meet the standards of the Greenest Schools Programme, known internationally as the Eco-Schools Programme. 

Recently, residents of Cosmo City took to active citizenship by cleaning up their areas as part of the “E thoma ka Wena” Campaign. The residents were reminded of the importance of creating a green future for their community.

The initiative – in partnership with the City of Joburg, Department of Environmental Health, Pikitup, Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – was driven by Green Beings as part of the National Cleanup Week.

Church groups and residents’ associations teamed up to plant trees and learn about the importance of anti-littering and anti-dumping.

Eight schools from across Cosmo City also took part in the project.