Greener Governance campaign - National Governance Association

Read our latest information sheet developed to help governors and trustees start meaningful conversations that ultimately result in a tangible climate action plan.

The sheet also includes key initiatives featured in the Department for Education's Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems.

Greener Governance campaign:

NGA's Greener Governance campaign aims to ensure all schools and trusts have a strategy for their contribution to environmental sustainability and to equip governing boards to play their role in overseeing this work.

We are asking every governing board to make the Greener Governance pledge to:

reduce carbon at your school or trust;
put your school’s or trust's contribution to environmental sustainability on the agenda; and
ensure a climate action plan is developed to make this happen.

Get started with our guide on developing a whole school approach to sustainability. and introductory webinar presented by Emma Knights

About the Greener Governance campaign

As local leaders making decisions, governors and trustees can make a difference. It falls to governors and trustees to listen to stakeholders, influence positive change and set the conditions to help young people understand the world and develop the skills and attitudes to live fulfilled lives as responsible citizens. The annual governance survey 2020 asked if boards had acted on climate change or environmental sustainability, revealing:

44% had acted
31% had not
25% were unsure

Through the Greener Governance campaign NGA hope to see a rise in those who have acted in the 2022 survey demonstrating boards’ positive action towards environmental sustainability.

Read our latest Governing Matters article A Climate for change, featuring case studies from a variety of schools and trusts.

Find out more in our other articles in the series: Sustainable ambition, Climate in the classroom and Engaging with environmental emergency.

Our commitments:

Showcase the importance of including the environment and sustainability in school and trust strategies and decision making
Provide guidance and signpost to relevant resources available for governors and trustees on environmental sustainability
Share best practice and examples of board led action
Work with partners across the education sector and encourage the Department for Education to include the role of governance in their work on environmental sustainability.
Encourage boards to ask and listen to stakeholders about change they want to see in this area
Address environmental sustainability within NGA’s own practices.

What impact could the education sector have?

Resources to support governing boards

NGA Resources

Developing a whole school approach to environmental sustainability - Updated for 2021, this guide encourages governing boards to adopt environmental sustainability as a strategic priority for their school or trust. Produced in collaboration with the National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE), it covers action on the 4Cs: curriculum, campus, community and culture.
Being Strategic: NGA's guide to creating, monitoring and reviewing strategy
‘A sustainable future for schools’, governing matters article from January 2020
‘Governors role in the climate curriculum’, governing matters article from June 2020

Further resources:

The NAEE website contains journals, case studies and curriculum guides to help schools understand and act on the need to live more sustainably
DfE guidance: Top tips for sustainability in schools suggests practical ways for schools to become more sustainable
Lets Go Zero 2030 is a campaign aiming to unite schools working to become carbon zero by 2030
Climate in the Classroom is an project run by the University of Reading aiming to create an action plan for better climate education
The Sustainability and Environmental Education hub brings together, shares and enhances best practice in environmental education
The Eco-Schools programme empowers children to drive change and improve their environmental awareness through the simple seven-step framework in order to achieve the international Eco-Schools Green Flag
Forum Strategy #TrustLeaders environmental sustainability strategy group supports trust leaders in making environmental sustainability a core strategic priority
Groundwork's 'Youth In A Changing Climate' report investigates young people’s views on climate change

What next?

Get in touch and let us know if your school or trust is making the Greener Governance pledge by emailing Megan.Tate@nga.org.uk
We want to hear from boards at all stages of their journey to improving their environmental sustainability so please do get in touch and email Megan.Tate@nga.org.uk

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Greener Governance