EkoSkola Malta

Our daily choices – It’s up to you! 2050

Our choices shape our future. Simple daily choices such as what we eat or how we move can affect our health and that of our planet. According to studies, a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and cereals protects our health. Being physically active, walking, cycling and reducing the use of motorised vehicles also contributes to our health and helps protect our environment. Create your own character and play out your day. Bring along your friends and family for the ride. Look for hidden gems and decide which world you want to help shape. It is up to you!

Earth Day Action Toolkit – for all year round!!!

Every April 22nd people from around the world come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day. In the below links you will find loads and loads of actions that can be taken by individuals, communities, businesses, schools, families, home owners… in short everyone.  

Alternative Fuels Explained

Emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles are a significant source of the world’s air pollution, which is why many drivers are looking into alternative fuel sources to reduce their carbon footprint. With the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy, reducing fuel emissions is on the agenda as it becomes a target to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy by 2050. As a result, alternative fuels are rising in popularity. These are fuels other than petroleum or diesel that can power vehicles but have a lower carbon footprint. Here are six alternative fuels for vehicles to determine which are the best options for the environment: Electricity Propane Hydrogen Natural gas Biodiesel Ethanol Read more through the link below…

St Michael School EkoSkola Newsletter April – June 2022

    Aħbarijiet mill-kumitat tal-EkoSkola tal-Iskola St Michael, Santa Venera… A T T I V I T A J I E T    M I L L – K U M I T A T Air quality Webinar Presentation Green Flag evaluation Xogħol fuq Serra Ħidma fIl-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk Mobility Presentation Eko-Parlament Rovigo Erasmus Training F ’ D I N  I L – Ħ A R Ġ A Editorjal Clouds Marine Litter (Esperjenza) Alien Species in Malta Globe Project (Air quality) Readings Electricty / Solar Panel Ritratti

We care about our present and our future

We care about our present and our future: A report. Eco- Schools 11th Young People’s Summit… © 2022 Nature Trust – FEE Malta Any part of the publication can be reproduced as long as the source is properly cited and credited. Citation: Nature Trust – FEE Malta (2022). We care about our present and our future: A report. Eco-Schools 11th Young People’s Summit. Listening to children’s voices for sustainability There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, that the notion of listening to and acting on children’s voices was unheard of and even frowned upon. Children were considered as incapable of making value judgements, of evaluating issues and propose solutions to problems unless they were told how to do it by adults. Most of the opportunities offering children a platform were mostly (at best) different forms of tokenism. Children were expected to listen to and uncritically absorb what adults had to say on issues and themes that had a direct relevance to the children’s present and future. Education for Sustainable Development seeks to empower individuals irrespective of age to become active citizens seeking to promote sustainable lifestyles and choices. Nature Trust – FEE Malta sought to actively facilitate this by implementing the international Eco-Schools Programme (locally called EkoSkola). The EkoSkola programme is mainly driven by student initiated and managed actions that start off at school, but then spill over into their households and their community. Since its inception in 2002, the EkoSkola program has worked hard to bring the voice of children to policy makers, both local and overseas. So, over the years EkoSkola has created different fora to achieve this, like: EkoSkola Parliament sessions, consultation meetings with various Maltese presidents and ministers; meetings with the main political party leaders during which they presented a memorandum prior to the General Elections; and countless meetings with mayors and councillors of different localities. Another forum that promotes children’s voices is the annual Young People’s Summit, during which primary and secondary school students discuss various sustainability issues and propose ways how these issues can be addressed. These issues are collated into a declaration that is then presented to members of parliament. There were even cases where these recommendations were also presented to international fora such as during the Informal Meeting of the EU Environment Council; during international conferences about sustainability, and to delegates attending the CHOGM 2015. As part of the COP 26 follow up, the British High Commission sponsored five mini sessions that explored Climate Change from various dimensions that were attended by students from 103 schools (63 primary and 40 secondary). During the online summits, students discussed with local experts the various perspectives of the issues explored and proposed practical actions that could be implemented to address the issues. These proposals were collated in this special publication together with several other inputs from younger children in the form of drawings and craft projects. An interesting spin off from this series of mini summits, was an interest in learning what children from …

Learning Corner for 5-18 year olds by European Commission

If you’re a primary or secondary school pupil, this is where you’ll find games, competitions and activity books to help you discover the EU in a fun way, in the classroom or at home. You can also find out more about studying or volunteering abroad. If you’re a teacher and want to help your pupils learn about the EU and how it works, this is a source of teaching material for all age groups. As well as finding inspiration for lesson plans, you can also discover networking opportunities with other schools and teachers across the EU. You can find material about food, farming, fisheries, environment, climate, energy, culture and much more… NOTE:  This resource is available in various languages.  Links to the Maltese and English versions can be found below.   More direct links in attachments below too.

How Can Technology Contribute to a Sustainable Future?

The link given below gives a green tech in-depth guide about: What sustainable technology is and its trio of core principles: prevention, substitution, and efficiency The moves tech giants are making to be more sustainable How businesses can be more sustainable, and the schemes available to support them Here are just a few insights: Renewable forms of electricity will account for 196 gigawatts of global power by the end of 2021, a steep rise from 167 gigawatts in 2020. Businesses are a big part of tackling climate change. In 2017, Google hit the milestone of being powered by 100% renewable energy. Amazon also co-founded the Climate Pledge, which strives to meet the targets of the Paris Accord as much as 10 years early. Researchers around the world are also working on green tech solutions. At the University of Michigan, they’re developing an innovative solar glass solution, which could replace windows in large buildings. There are 5-7 billion square metres of window space available in the USA, enough to power as much as 40% of the country. Lots more info in the link below…

The importance of Eco-Friendly cars

Two students, Eva and Sofia, did some research and sent in this article with a lot of really great information on the importance of eco-friendly cars… In the past decade, the automobile industry has experienced a revolution. While traditional vehicles are still going strong, the creation of affordable, mass-produced hybrids and electric cars has started a revolution. Many people are choosing electric cars over fossil-fuel vehicles because they are cheaper to drive and help reduce damage to the environment. The cost of charging an electric car is much less than the cost of filling up the tank, and the cost of a new hybrid or electric car has dropped considerably over the past ten years. These cars also aren’t as loud, which reduces noise pollution and makes communities quieter. While it seems like electric cars are the most logical move, it’s only recently that technology has made them both affordable and efficient….

A Consumer’s Guide to Reducing Pollution

A surprising amount of pollution starts at home. The car you drive, the household and personal care products you buy, the chemicals and equipment you use to keep your lawn and garden in shape all contribute to water and air pollution. But there are consumer choices you can make that will reduce your environmental footprint.  Click on the link and refer to subtitles below… How to Prevent Air Pollution: The Car You Drive Household Products Energy Use Preventing Water Pollution: Pesticide and Fertilizer Alternatives to Prevent Water Pollution Reducing Landfill Waste 25 Things You Can Do to Reduce Pollution (with infographic)  

The carbon footprint of the internet

Ever wondered or considered the carbon footprint of your use of the internet?  Here is an idea.  You will need to scroll down.  The first part of the article gives numbers of how many people have access to the internet depending on the country, etc. Well, here it is… When we think of carbon emissions, we think of the consumption of fossil fuels in things like transportation and industrial processes. Do we ever think of the internet? Contributing to only 3.7% of the world’s global carbon emissions, it’s not considered a major threat to the welfare of our planet, but with how much the internet is growing, we should remain aware of its effects. Below are some statistics about the effects our persistent use of the internet is having on the environment. One email releases 4 grams of CO2 into the atmosphere. An email with a large attachment could have a footprint of up to 50 grams. A year of incoming mail for a typical business creates around 135kg of CO2. Of the 3.7% global emissions coming from the internet, 3.5% is from the information communications and technology industry Data centres across the world are consuming around 1% of global electricity Netflix accounted for 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide globally in 2018 An online Google search emits 0.2 grams of CO2

21 useful tips to save energy in summer

If you’re one of the many people who transitioned to flexible or full-time work from home, you may have noticed your energy bills creeping up… Here are some COVID energy-saving tips which may apply always actually. Many of us have been mostly cooped up inside our homes. This has resulted in higher spending on gas and electricity, particularly during the height of lockdown. Here are some tips to save water and energy in the house all through the year actually.  Some may not apply for you but others certainly will.

Our Planet, Our Future

The Teacher’s Hub provided by the European Commission  contains a selection of classroom exercises and relevant materials for the “Causes”, “Impacts” and “Solutions” modules of the interactive site for students “Our planet, our future”. In each section, you’ll find an introduction worksheet, various thematic worksheets and one answer sheet.   Our Planet, Our Future: Fighting Climate Change Together Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing our world today. Our planet is experiencing significant and accelerated climate change that began over a century ago. This educational tool is developed by the European Commission. It is based on information contained in “Our Planet, Our Future: fighting climate change together”, initially published in 2015 ahead of the Paris climate conference and updated in 2018.

A Student’s Guide to Conservation and Environmental Science

What is Environmental Science? The term ‘environmental science’ is the academic study of the environment. Environmental science studies include the biological and physical effects on the earth from both natural and natural processes. The environmental science field can include topics of studies such as zoology, oceanography soil science, biology, and plant science, atmospheric science, geology, mineralogy, and so much more. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – For Students Learning and Teaching about the Environment – US EPA The Environment and Environmental Sciences The GLOBE Program Environmental Science Lessons – TED-ED Earth & Environment Classroom Resources Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, and Online Environmental Resources for Educators Environmental Education Lesson Plans Lessons – Kids Environmental Sciences What is Environmental Conservation and why is it important? ‘Environmental conservation’ refers to the practice of protecting the earth’s natural environment through organizations, governments, and personal actions by individuals. The study of environmental conservation is so important because it enlightens us as to what we need to do to conserve our planet and resources. As the years go on, the growth of the human population has degraded our ecosystems and has depleted our natural resources. Our earth can only sustain us for so long. Environment America – Conservation Conservation: History and Future National Geographic: Conservation Climate and Environment – US Department of State Conservation & Preservation Conservation, Preservation, and Environmental Activism: A Survey of the Historical Literature Natural Resource Conservation Information United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Forest Conservation & Environmental Awareness Wildlife Conservation Forest Conservation: 14 facts you need to know What is soil conservation? World Wildlife Fund: Forest Initiatives Wildlife Conservation Society Conservation Science Wildlife Conservation Network The Conservation Fund Library of Congress: American Memory Timeline – Conservation in the Progressive Era Global Wildlife Conservation About Soil Conservation Benefits Smithsonian’s Conservation Ecology Center Water Conservation Information Did you know?: On average in America, each household uses over 300 gallons of water every day! That’s a lot of water! It’s important to conserve our earth’s natural resources. Water is wasted every day. (Per capita water use: How much water do you use in your home?) Here are some tips and informative websites to help you conserve water: User low-flow water heads on the fixtures throughout your home. Only water your lawn when it needs it. Consider getting a rain barrel for outdoor water use! Saving Water Outdoors 10 Tips for Outdoor Water Conservation Fix all water leaks throughout your home. These small drips can add up! Water Conservation Tips Water Conservation Stop Water Waste Dishwashers save water! Purchase new dishwashers with the Energy Star label to ensure your conserve the most water possible. Water Conservation Tips Water Conservation and Rebates Water Conservation in the Home Replace older toilets with newer, water-saving models. Water conservation tips for both in – and outside of the home Don’t wash your car at home: Commercial car washes are water-efficient and waste much less water. How To Save Water Information on Conserving Energy Conserving Energy in Your Home: Consider solar …

Nature for all Discovery Zone

Welcome to the #NatureForAll Discovery Zone. Curated from #NatureForAll partner resources, and ranging from videos to lesson plans, comic books to coloring books, this collection will help you connect people with nature, instill love of nature and learn about nature wherever you are. Refer to the link below for loads of online resources where you can browse hundreds of partner resources, from comic books to lesson plans. and a Conversation Space – A unique online platform allowing you to interact with nature enthusiasts interested in connecting people with nature.

20 Ways To Go Green At Work

Throughout recent years, more and more people have sought to adapt their domestic lives in order to “go green”. Measures such as reducing home water waste, reducing energy consumption, and opting to buy local produce all have a role to play in helping the environment and have been readily adopted by millions of people. However, while domestic adoption of “green” tactics has been accepted, many businesses have struggled to find ways to “go green” in their business environments. In an effort to remedy this issue, below, we have put together 20 easily-implemented ideas that can help you to bolster your environmentally-friendly activities in the workplace.

My Green Kitchen: The Ultimate Guide to an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. It’s often the beating heart of a household, where people eat, socialize, relax, and congregate. With such a vital role, it should come as no surprise that your choices, knowingly or not, can have an environmental impact. More and more people are making efforts to ‘go green’ at home. By this, we mean making conscious efforts to make their home more eco-friendly. There are many reasons to so; it’s good for the environment, it can save you money, and it can have positive impacts on your health. From recycling to switching to energy-efficient appliances, you can make your kitchen a sustainable place by implementing a few simple changes. Make your kitchen greener and eco-friendly with a few simple steps. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, you can choose more efficient ways of running your kitchen. Similarly, if you’re hoping to lead a healthier lifestyle, you can opt to remove toxins from your home. Finally, if you want to reduce your bills and save money, the kitchen is a great place to start. In this article, we cover the details of all three. Ultimately, you, your family, your finances, and the environment can all benefit from going green in the kitchen. The fact you’re even reading this article shows that you’re willing to at least consider it, which is a great start. Stick with us as we outline how you can overhaul your kitchen to be an eco-friendly hub in your home.

20 Things You Can do to Conserve Energy

Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants. You do not have to do without to achieve these savings. There is now an energy efficient alternative for almost every kind of appliance or light fixture. That means that consumers have a real choice and the power to change their energy use on a revolutionary scale. The average American produces about 40,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year. Together, we use nearly a million dollars worth of energy every minute, night and day, every day of the year. By exercising even a few of the following steps, you can cut your annual emissions by thousands of pounds and your energy bills by a significant amount! Read more below…

Turn Your House Into A “Green” Energy Machine

Renewable energy is energy that is replenished by nature itself. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable power sources will never be exhausted. This form of energy is also known as “green energy” because it can usually be harnessed without creating lasting harm to the planet. Rather, people can use it in a way that is completely in harmony with nature. Green energy normally produces little pollution, so even larger energy-producing operations can have limited environmental impact. For all these reasons, green power is also called “alternative energy” — an alternative to fossil fuels. Some examples of green power include wind, solar, and geothermal. One of the reasons people might integrate renewable energy into their homes is to reduce their carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide a household contributes to the atmosphere. Scientists who study climate have come to a consensus that the rising concentration of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere is associated with higher average temperatures on Earth. These gases work to trap solar radiation within the atmosphere, thus influencing how much heat from the sun becomes locked up in Earth’s vicinity and affects the planet’s surface. Read more in the link below…

My Green Kitchen: The Ultimate Guide to an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

Why Go Green in the Kitchen?   The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. It’s often the beating heart of a household, where people eat, socialize, relax, and congregate. With such a vital role, it should come as no surprise that your choices, knowingly or not, can have an environmental impact. More and more people are making efforts to ‘go green’ at home. By this, we mean making conscious efforts to make their home more eco-friendly. There are many reasons to so; it’s good for the environment, it can save you money, and it can have positive impacts on your health. From recycling to switching to energy-efficient appliances, you can make your kitchen a sustainable place by implementing a few simple changes.

A guide to a more sustainable small business

Start your small business energy conservation program today with immediate, actionable tips. Plus, learn long-term strategies and tips on how to get employees involved. This guide offers actionable advice surrounding the four main opportunities for energy savings: Lighting Heat Regulation Equipment Upgrades Employee Engagement Basically covering: Immediate and long-term changes a business can make to save energy Ways to save energy in the workplace through efficient lighting and heat regulation Financial and tax benefits of implementing green practices in a business How to train employees to save energy And much more!

EkoSkola Newsletter – St Michael School, Santa Venera – Ħarġa 21

Energy by TVA

Learn more about what families can do to save energy and find out how TVA makes electricity. This site was suggested by Peyton Vogel and her friends.

Energy Saver Guide: Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home

Check out these tips for creating an energy-efficient home, including low-cost and no-cost options that any family can handle. This site was suggested by Peyton Vogel and her friends.

All about Light Pollution

The topics discussed on this page cover how to prevent light pollution, in particular the topics are: Public Broadcasting Station’s P.O.V. will give an encore showing of Ian Cheney’s The City Dark – Monday, August 12th, 2013 Reducing Light Pollution Preventing the Effects of Light Pollution in Your Home Practical Actions – Tips for how to better deal with Light Pollution from others IDA’s Good Neighbor Introductory Letter Some notes about legal actions that have been tried. American Medical Association UNANIMOUSLY passes Resolution 516 against Light Pollution Additional sites about light pollution If you would like to learn reasons to prevent light pollution, then consider some of its impacts… This site was suggested by Peyton Vogel and her friends.

All about Energy – Be an Energy Star

Our planet is in trouble For thousands of years our planet has given us energy, lots of energy! But in the process we have put our planet under stress and now it needs our help.  If we want to keep our planet healthy we must find better ways of getting and using energy. Join Energy Star in the flight to save our planet by being energy efficient.  There is so much to learn and explore, and don;t forget to take action! This site was suggested by Peyton Vogel and her friends.

Consumer Classroom – also in Maltese…

Consumer Classroom is a new collaborative website for teachers about consumer education. It provides free, high quality resources for teachers along with interactive and collaborative tools to help teachers prepare lesson plans to share with students and other teachers from across the EU. Sign Up now on www.ConsumerClassroom.eu

The Earth Dog Story – Earth Dog returns to Save the Environment

The Earth Dog Story, first published in 1992, returns as an app in iTunes and an eBook as part of the U.S. Department of Energy environmental outreach program with Weekly Reader. Earth Dog is a superhero who teaches kids about taking care of the environment.

Show you care, do your share!

The St Monica Gzira Primary EkoSkola Committee prepared a video as part of a campaign with the title: “Show you care, do your share.” The campaign was planned as part of the U4energy competition category C.

Earth Preservers Website

Earth Preservers is an environmental news and information website for kids that relates the environment to a wide-range of current events and topics. Resources include short films and documentaries, interactive quizzes, classroom resources, poll questions, and a monthly newsletter.

HSBC Climate Initiative Newsletter 10

This issue is about renewable energy – mainly solar and wind energy.  There is also information about Xrobb l-Għagin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre and the annual HSBC EcoCode Competition details.

Take 2: The Student’s Point of View

The Take2 Youth Media Program takes advantage of today’s youthful fascination with technology to motivate active learning in environmental science, English, and media literacy. Working individually or collaborating in teams, students create short documentaries or public service announcements that are designed to inform, entertain, or advocate on issues illustrated by the footage provided.

Games Page on the United States Environmental Protection Agency

This webpage contains links to loads of games, videos and quizzes related to the environment, energy, water, mystery solving, science, recycling, waste and much more…

EPA United States Environmental Agency

This webistes provides loads of resources, games, news and info to students, teachers and parents. Topics included are climate change, sustainable energy, Earth Day, science experiments, environmental games

Game Helps Students Learn About Environmental Issues

“PowerUp” challenges players to save the imaginary planet and learn engineering and science principles by carrying out missions to supply solar, wind, and water power.  

Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)

CLEAN, the Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network , which is a reviewed and annotated digital library collection, has teamed up with EARTH: The Operators’ Manual (or ETOM) a PBS television special starring Penn State glaciologist and climate expert Dr. Richard Alley. The ETOM website (http://earththeoperatorsmanual.com/) includes a streaming version of the entire program, a fully annotated script, links to high quality learning activities from CLEAN. “Clips of the program can be downloaded for use in classrooms. Short segments such as IT’S US — which details how scientists know from carbon isotopes that human activities are altering the climate system — are connected to online learning resources vetted by CLEAN. For teachers who would like to connect with other educators, or to ask Dr. Alley or writer/director Geoff Haines-Stiles specific questions about the program, the ICEE Community Forum (http://iceeonline.org/forum) offers a discussion thread about ETOM.  

Friends Environmental Education Network (FEEN)

In 1999, a group of educators from Friends schools began the Friends Environmental Education Network (FEEN) to further environmental stewardship and green practices in schools. Since then, FEEN share ideas, inspiration, and friendship. FEEN participants firmly believe that a commitment to sustainable living and environmental stewardship needs to be a fundamental component of a Quaker education. This website provides input about various green practices, projects, etc all realted to nature, environment, food, green buildings & spaces, etc.

Burning in the Sun

Burning in the Sun, an inspirational documentary featuring a young West African man who starts a business building solar panels from scratch and selling them to rural customers in Mali. Addressing climate change, poverty, and self-sufficiency, the film demonstrates how a small-scale, local business model can provide jobs, appropriate technology, and empowerment to people everywhere.

HSBC Climate Initiative Newsletter 3

Can we change climate? Can we make a difference? This issue provides information about which amongst our actions produce greenhouse gases plus giving hints about how to reduce such emissions and how to identify ‘energy smart’ products.

Eko-Kif? – Dokumentarju ta’ Kulleġġ Sta Tereza, Skola Primarja Sta Venera

EkoKif? is a 19 minute plus documentary produced in Mlatese by the students of St Theresa College of St Venera about the importance of an ECO-Friendly Life with the students themselves proposing  ways to reduce electricity and water consumption.  

5 easy way to save the planet – the Super Power Bloke

A short cartoon proposing five tips to reduce our carbon footprint.

The animals save the world – 30 second cartoon

“Energy saving bulbs use one fifth of the energy of ordinary bulbs.” Help the animals save their planet and ours, use energy saving bulbs!

Energy Cartoons – tips towards saving

A family is carelessly and unknowingly wasting energy from the moment they wake up. Until something unexpectely happens… Produced by Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign, an initiative of the European Commission.

Waking up – video by the GAIA foundation

A man wakes up from a nightmare of a forest in destruction. As he stirs other visions flash before his eyes with his early morning actions. Frustration and anger turn to calm realisation as he slowly wakes up to the fact that his daily actions are connected to the world around him.

Energy and water saving tips short video in Maltese

Want to know more on how to save electricity and water at home ? A video just under 8 minutes where two children tell their mother what they learnt from school about how to avoid wasting energy and water at home.  

26 minute video about renewable energy

11 year olds speak about global warming, sources of carbon dioxide, wind power, solar power, tidal power, electric cars, hybrid cars, food miles…

Plan it Green – National Geographic

Turn Greenville into the greenest city ever – building eco-home, zero energy homes, opening eco shops, upgrading existing houses, enhance the community with parks and more…

The very hungry school – A whole week’s work on consumption

‘The Very Hungry School’ story and associated worksheet provide a useful resource for literacy and maths work, as well as offering good preparation for ‘The Very Hungry School’ online pupil discussion.

How Green is My Town?

How Green is My Town?” is a grassroots effort to empower citizens and local decision makers to address the issues of climate change, sustainability, and environmental health at the local level.

NASA Gives Kids Their Own Guide to Climate Change

NASAs new Climate Kids Web site, targeting grades 4-6, de-mystifies global climate change science using simple illustrations, humor, interactivity, and age-appropriate language. The interactive Climate Time Machine shows how global changes affect our planet over time.

u4energy resources and competition

  U4energy is a European Commission initiative, funded through the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. It aims at encouraging schools to contribute innovative ideas on reducing energy consumption and raising awareness of responsible energy use.