ECOED 4 ALL
Focusing on making environmental education a cornerstone of the formal second level curriculum.
BELFAST — 16 schools from all corners of the island of Ireland gathered in Belfast on Wednesday 1 February 2023 for the inaugural All-island Schools 4 Climate Action Conference; the first cross-border conference of its kind on the island of Ireland.
The conference was held in the state-of-the-art W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, located in the SSE Arena in Belfast, and stems from the All-island Schools 4 Climate Action programme, which delivers Alison environmental science courses to students in second-level schools and supports schools to take collective action to address the climate emergency, through climate action campaigns.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of all life on earth – it is nature by another name. Humans have evolved as part of biodiversity and it provides us with everything we need to live: food, air, water, medicine, and the raw materials and processes that support economic activity and development. It is essentially our life support system. In the last 50 years, the world has lost two-thirds of its wildlife. Read more
Climate Change - The Science
Climate Change – The Science explores the fundamental elements that make up Earth’s climate system and addresses how we know what we do about climate change. This module introduces students to the physical components of natural and human-induced ‘anthropogenic’ climate variability, examines some of the predicted impacts of modern global warming, and asks students to consider practical solutions. Read more
Circular Economy
The Economy module will examine both the current popular economic model known as the Linear and an alternative future model known as the Circular, a shift that some would define as a movement away from Degeneration towards Regeneration. Students will learn to recognise that a shift to a new economic model will not be easy, for it will mean a fundamental cultural change in our attitude to other forms of life on the planet. Read more
Climate Change - Transport
Our lives are fuelled by fossil carbon. Even small changes in our Transport habits, implemented on a national scale, will make a large difference to Ireland’s carbon footprint, productivity, and health.
- Increased vehicle fuel efficiency
- Investment in rural public transport links & infrastructure
- Community-informed planning & investment in urban mass transport
- Making cycling & cycle routes safer
- Incentivisation of low-carbon alternatives
Climate Change - Energy
Energy is the ability to do work. Energy is the ability to cause a change. The residential sector accounts for 25% of the energy used in Ireland, and is also responsible for a quarter of the energy-related CO2 emissions. Irish homes emit almost 60% more CO2 than the average EU home. Major emissions contributors are our non-renewable fuel mix – oil, turf, coal and gas. Homes have over 95% dependency on fossil fuel
Heat rises – with open fires most heat goes up the chimney
Water Pollution
We humans have our own water cycle that interacts and is dependent on the natural water cycle. Humans and other animals intercept fresh water somewhere on its passage from the sky to the sea. We extract water for our domestic and industrial uses, to irrigate our crops, for certain industries, and to help process our waste. Unfortunately, the contaminants that we introduce to the environment through our use of water ultimately come back to us, as well as to other various life forms. Read more
Eco Advocate Outing – March
Colaiste Iognáid students pictured here with Duncan Stewart, conducting a water sampling session, as part of an exciting new Transition Year field trip course, called Eco Advocates, an EcoEd4All initiative (www.ecoed4all.com). Stewart, an award winning architect, environmentalist and well known producer and presenter of Eco Eye, and official Patron of EcoEd4All, joined the students and Eco Advocate Course leader, Jen Cunningham along the banks of the River Corrib. The water quality sampling session was lead by GMiT Marine Biology students, Molly Curran and Joseph Donnelly. Brendan ‘Speedie’ Smith, Founder of Galway National Park City and Committee member and content contributor to EcoEd4All also spoke to students about the importance of the circular economy and the Galway National Park City initiative. Also in the photo is Pam Dolan, Environmental Officer and Coláiste Iognáid, Art Teacher.
A stunning day along the banks of the river Corrib with Dominican College Galway and their transition year students doing the EcoEd4All’s newly launched EcoAdvocates field trip course. A huge thanks to Brendan ‘Speedie’ Smith for allocating us some fabulous equipment.
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Eco expert Damien Nee of EcoEd4All facilitating climate action discussion with our participants at #StrongerTogetherCC @ieBritish #ClimateActionNow 9:55 AM · Apr 30, 2022 from Dublin City.
Testimonials
It was such an honour to welcome such lead drivers of environmental education into our virtual classroom. Duncan Stewart (award winning architect, environmentalist and tv presenter) and Brendan Smith (award winning environmentalist, science person of the year and tech-innovator), both local, national and international champions of green spaces and an educated public, presented on core environmental issues from both a societal and scientific standpoint.
I have been using the resources with my Geography group and find them wonderful. We really enjoy the course.
I attended a meeting about the EcoEd4All initiative and am ON BOARD! It was super. Thank you.
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