A FOREST school has become the first Gloucestershire school and one of the first in the UK to have an official climate change teacher.
The move comes thanks to a United Nations programme which has put the Dean Academy onto an interactive map released as part of the Mayor of London’s Climate Action Week.
Fiona Price, assistant director of world affairs at the school, successfully completed the programme which examines in detail one of the most important global issues of today.
It is delivered by Harwood Education in partnership with the One Nations Climate Change Learning Partnership.
Mrs Price explained ‘The course covers many issues, including the impact that climate change will have on children, gender, health and the environment.
“I am passionate about looking at the issues and responses to climate change with our students and look forward to working on this further in the next academic year to make our school more eco-friendly.
This will include looking at reducing waste and recycling plastics and cardboard.’
The course was launched in April and offers an insight into many different climate change issues as well as providing up-to-date resources to help teachers deliver climate change lessons across all curriculum areas.
It comes as the Forest of Dean District Council appointed a carbon reduction co-ordintor after declaring a ‘climate emergency’ last December.
Charlie Leaman will be responsible for assessing the current greenhouse gas emissions of the council, researching opportunities for energy saving measures and increasing the supply of green electricity to the authority’s buildings.