1. NATIONAL OPERATORS MEETING 22 ND AND 23 RD OCTOBER TRONDHEIM – NORWAY - 2009 Estela Gonçalves Pereira International Eco-Schools Coordinator Foundation for Environmental Education

2. CONTENTS 1. Who runs Eco-Schools? 2. Eco-Schools: What is it? 3. Eco-Schools: in a nutshell 4. Eco-Schools: What is different? 5. Eco-Schools: International Criteria 6. Eco-Schools: How to achieve the Green Flag? 7. Eco-Schools: Participating countries 8. Eco-Schools Growth 9. Involvement 10. Eco-Schools Numbers 11. Eco-Schools Programme – International Projects 12. Eco-Schools Partners

3. FEE: a network of NGOs One member organisation per country Aim: Environmental education for sustainable development 1981: 4 countries – 2009: 58 countries (47 Eco-Schools) 2001: FEEE  FEE 5 programmes: More information: www.fee-international.org 1. WHO RUNS ECO-SCHOOLS ?

4. ▲ VISION ▲ MISSION To increase the level of awareness on environment issues, sustainable development among Schools, Students and local communities. Improve the skills and creativity of everyone who is involved acting in a positive and responsible way towards sustainable development. To educate students around the globe on environmental issues as a way to increase awareness and knowledge, through the action oriented, participatory, and positive methods of the programme, as an integral step towards sustainable development. 4 2. ECO-SCHOOLS: WHAT IS IT?

5. A whole-school environmental education, management and certification programme, based on EMAS / ISO 14001 Participative approach: pupils involved in all stages of the process, decision making and activities A Local Agenda 21 at the wide school community level Good vector for introducing citizenship education and sustainable lifestyles The programme presents a tangible opportunity to implement the National Curriculum principles 2. ECO-SCHOOLS: WHAT IS IT?

6. Eco-schools is an international programme for Environmental Education built on international quality criteria Aims to raise students' awareness of environmental issues through classroom study as well as action in school and community It encourages children and youth to take an active role in improving the quality of life in their school and the community Reduces the environmental impact of the school, following a process based on an environmental audit 3. ECO-SCHOOLS: IN A NUTSHELL

7. The programme is person oriented not task oriented It is not invasive and adapts itself to the individual needs of the school Awarding is criterion referenced not norm referenced Participation is completely voluntary and democratic Adopts a bottom-up approach with students as the main actors … no token participation. School development is intrinsically generated not externally imposed 4. ECO-SCHOOLS: WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

8. 1 - The Eco-Schools Award is the Green Flag 2- Target group: Primary and Secondary level (however, other groups are possible) 3 - Eco-Schools Assessment: Visit to schools for the 1 st Green Flag. Then it is a Recommendation to visit. Other ways of assessment schools are possible 4- Annual Award or Bi-Annual Award with schools assessment after the 1 st year 5 - Eco-Schools: Continuous improvement – Environmental Performance 5. ECO-SCHOOLS: INTERNATIONAL CRITERIA

9. 1- 7 steps methodology 2- Students actively involved: activities and decision – making processes 3- Eco-Schools need to implement at least 1 theme from a list of possible themes 4- Eco-Schools need to network with other schools and with schools from other countries 5- Eco-Schools need to develop links between schools and with local authorities and other entities. Local Authorities need to be involved 6. ECO-SCHOOLS: HOW TO ACHIEVE THE GREEN FLAG ?

10. South AfricaSloveniaSlovakia Russia Romania Sweden Spain Tunisia France FinlandDenmark Czech Republic GreeceGermanyDominican Rep FYR Macedonia ItalyIrelandLatviaKenyaKazakhstan Iceland JapanJordan Lithuania Portugal NorwayNetherlands Poland Puerto Rico Malta Morocco UK: Wales UK: Scotland Turkey UK: Northern Ireland UK: EnglandUganda USA BelgiumCroatiaChileBulgaria Cyprus Brazil ChinaBahamas 7. ECO-SCHOOLS: PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES?

11. 8. ECO-SCHOOLS: GROWTH Values from Annual Reports (Sept. 09) The final numbers analysis will be finished by the beginning of Decembre.

12. 9. INVOLVEMENT INVOLVEMENT (%) (Sept. 2009) ECO-SCHOOLS2004/052005/062006/072007/08 2008/09 KINDERGARTENS 101199 13 PRIMARY 544863 58 SECONDARY 20181618 20 P+S 4--- - OTHERS1323125 10

13. 2007/ 2008 Students 6 375 575 Teachers 392 653 Schools 27 304 Local Authorities 4 927 Green Flag 6 689 2008/ 2009 Students 8 604 397 Teachers 628 903 Schools 31 145 Local Authorities 4 659 Green Flag 9 443 10. ECO-SCHOOLS NUMBERS (Sept. 09)

14. 11. ECO-SCHOOLS PROGRAMME – INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS 2007/09 TME via Toyota Fund for Europe, Environment & Innovation Project 2nd Cycle 6 countries / 308 000 Euros 2009/12 HSBC ECO-SCHOOSL Climate Change Project 28-30 countries / 2,5 millions USD 2009/10 Flick the Switch Project / IPIC Partner / European Commission 2 countries / 72 000 Euros 2009/10 TME via Toyota Fund for Europe Environment & Innovation Retailers Pilot 2 countries / 77 000 Euros

15. 12. ECO-SCHOOLS PARTNERS www.unep.org europa.eu.int European Union United Nations Environment Programme FEE Portugal / Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa http://www.abae.pt www.toyota-europe.com/innovation/environment www.hsbc.com/ www.ipic.cat/

16. NOM 2009 PARTNERS FEE NORWAY

17. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME