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Eight Wellington pupils have been awarded the Carbon Literacy Certificate as part of our ongoing partnership with the Carbon Literacy Trust. The programme was led by Ana Romero, Head of Sustainability at Wellington College International, and builds on our commitment to embedding sustainability into the heart of the Wellington education experience.
Throughout the academic year, Fifth Form and Lower Sixth students participating in the Global Citizenship programme’s sustainability strand received in-depth training in carbon literacy from Dr Emma Fieldhouse, Director of Future We Want. Inspired by Mike Berners-Lee’s influential book, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything, the training used interactive carbon footprint games, which the pupils are now sharing with the local community, including partner schools and Wellington Prep.
To qualify for certification, students were required to meet a high standard through both an individual and a group project. Individual projects focused on changing everyday habits to reduce carbon footprints, with each student receiving feedback on their action plan and encouraged to refine and resubmit it for maximum impact.
For example, Chiara C pledged to reduce her household’s carbon footprint by choosing seasonal vegetables and adopting a low-carbon diet. Meanwhile, Claudia K and Jessy B explored new ways to reduce food waste, with Jessy developing a prototype for harnessing energy from food scraps in the school kitchen.
Other pupils embraced the opportunity to make personal lifestyle changes. Maddie W, Rosie W, and Will B focused on dietary changes, with Rosie committing to a vegetarian lifestyle, inspired by her desire to lessen the resources required for meat production. Chiara and Linda Z also pledged to grow vegetables at home to support local food consumption.
The group project, a collaborative effort by Sixth Formers, tackled larger-scale sustainability goals for Wellington College. The pupils identified strategic locations around the school for the installation of air and ground source heat pumps, aligning with SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Their project, which promotes school-wide energy reduction, aims to educate the Wellington community on sustainable practices.
In addition to their projects, two pupils have taken on prominent sustainability leadership roles:
- PACTS Climate Action Launch at Google Academy: Sustainability Ambassadors Jessy B and Rosie W represented Wellington at the launch of PACTS (Politicians Accountable for Climate To Students), where they discussed their sustainability journeys with leaders including Ann Finlayson, CEO of Our Shared World, and Lord Jim Knight. This new initiative empowers students to influence politicians on climate action through a range of activities, reflecting our commitment to equipping young leaders with the skills to advocate for climate change solutions.
- Leadership at the Climate Fresk Event: Marwa M and Lydia C-B showcased Wellington College’s leadership on climate issues as representatives at the Berkshire Schools Eco-Network’s Climate Fresk event, hosted by Eton College. This innovative educational workshop helps local students understand the science of climate change, with Marwa and Lydia playing active roles in fostering climate awareness and inspiring others in the school community to take action.
Ana Romero remarked, “When awarding these certifications, the Carbon Literacy Trust recognised our pupils’ impressive projects and their dedication to collaborative action. The Wellington community’s commitment to sustainability is evident, and empowering our students to make a difference is essential to building a sustainable future.”
Find out more about how we’re leading climate education through action learning: Sustainability – Wellington College
