Once known as the City of Gardens, Lahore has lost over 70% of its tree cover and is now ranked as the most polluted city. This was exacerbated by the floods last year, the environmental crisis is adversely impacting the livelihood and health of its residents. The project functions parallel to the academic curriculum, empowering the next generation of eco-citizens through advocacy of long-term sustainable practices at community level. It supports a circular system of government bodies, educational institutions, private and social sector entities that come together to affect intergenerational transfer of climate-aware knowledge and practice.
Phase-wise findings inform a resource document, a checklist of green practices for schools and pro-environment policy recommendations that are developed with partnership of the government to impact future climate and education policies. The project structure facilitates an expansion model which can be replicated across institutions and scaled-up to other regions in Pakistan. Creating a network of eco-conscious entities that are committed to reducing their environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable future, especially in the context of the Global South.
Qudsia Rahim, Project Director
Project Description
The Green School Certification Program (GSCP) is a year-long initiative that seeks critical thinking and whole systems learnings on climate education and ecological practices using art-education as a pedagogical tool, with a focus on climate justice. Our aim is to establish ‘baseline – Green Schools’ by developing a comprehensive pedagogical model and promoting climate knowledge and ecological practices through a whole systems approach.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our invaluable partners who have made this project possible:
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has acted as our curriculum partner and developed the curriculum on 6 themes, which were taught by the School of Education at LUMS using the pedagogical tool, Visible Thinking Routines (VTR). LCI Chemicals (Terylene Clean) has partnered with us to recycle plastic for the project. We would also like to acknowledge the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Youth Affairs & Sports Department, Aabroo, and Nayyar Ali Dada & Associates as our other project/institutional partners. Our project advisors, including Raza Ali Dada, Rafay Alam, Naazish Ata Ullah, Dr. Faisal Bari, Chief Patron Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Umer Rasool, and Captain Usman have been instrumental in guiding us throughout this project. We are grateful for their support.
Pilot activities
- Research-based climate change education workshops for Public School students in grades 6-8 (Middle Scools, ages 10-12).
- Continuous professional development through the Training of Trainers (ToT) model for teachers and students using Visible Thinking Routines (VTRs).
- Nature Workbooks distributed to students to reinforce knowledge from student workshops.
- Student-led Eco-Clubs to empower students to engage with environmental challenges.
- Compiling Green School policy recommendations for the government, and providing schools with a checklist of ecological practices based on project learnings.
- Zero to low Waste through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Upcycling.
Pilot Goals
- Facilitating a network of academics through shared knowledge and student-led Eco Clubs.
- Social media call-to-action to mobilize a new generation of changemakers – reliant on self-help, awareness, and empowerment.
- Instructional resources for and checklist of recommendations to help schools reduce their environmental impact.
- Develop and connect to young climate leaders by involving the local community in sustainable practices.
- Localize conversation about climate change through educational awareness.
- Increased biodiversity and sustainable ecology.
Project Findings
- Public schools produce low-to-negligible levels of carbon emissions and have healthy recycling habits. However, they are not equipped with rudimentary-to-expert knowledge of climate and environmental challenges. The GSCP focused on knowledge sedimentation and myth-busting through education, research projects, and practice.
- While private schools are equipped with the knowledge needed for climate action, they lack implementation and contribute to higher carbon emissions to the environment. Their waste production and recycling abilities are also affected.
Phase 2
The Environmental Protection Authority, Punjab has picked up the second phase of the Green School Certification Program, the government intends to expand the project city-wide and is presently considering a pilot program in the Shadman area. The project includes both public and private schools.
Program Brochure: Link
