Students and teachers of the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School took the “Green
Pledge” this morning in the presence of officers from the Conservation and
Fisheries…
Department and the Department of Disaster Management. The school was provided
with a starter kit which contained a number of environmentally friendly cleaning
supplies recommended for use in schools.
The Green Pledge involves taking actions to limit carbon emissions and to
raise awareness to help tackle climate change. Carbon emissions are a key
contributor to anthropogenic climate change and by reducing carbon emissions,
schools can help reduce the dangers of rapid climate change including more
frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
The Green Pledge is administered by the Conservation and Fisheries Department
and is part of the SMART schools project currently being piloted in the three
schools located in Sea Cows Bay which is aimed at making schools SAFE, HEALTHY
and GREEN.
The GREEN element of the SMART Schools project is designed to address the
potential impacts of climate change in the BVI and requires schools to implement
actions in the following areas: Recycling; Energy Efficiency; Water Quality
& Conservation and Indoor Environmental Quality & Chemical Management.
These are important elements that will allow schools to receive the SMART school
designation.
The SMART Schools Project was developed by the DDM and is endorsed by the
Ministry of Education and Culture. The Pilot project being implemented in the
three schools located in Sea Cows Bay is being financially supported by the
Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA).
