Schools climate action guide and template

Waste, consumption and recycling

As a society, we are consuming more and more. The result of this is an increase in waste. The items we consume produce a large amount of carbon emissions throughout their lives.

Decomposing waste also produces large amounts of carbon dioxide. It also creates other greenhouse gases like methane which have a direct impact on climate change.

Waste that is not properly disposed of can cause pollution and harm natural habitats and biodiversity.

This means that reducing waste and reducing our consumption of goods is key to helping to tackle climate change. This can be done by encouraging people to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. Only buying what we need can also help to prevent climate change. Schools can play a key role in changing these behaviours by leading by example and teaching about it. This isn’t just among students, but also within your wider communities.