In 2019 the Greater Victoria School Board became the first in Canada to declare a climate emergency. This historic move came at the request of a group of parents - Parents 4 Climate - who came together over concerns about their children's future.
Other schools, including the Qualicum School District (BC), the Halton School District (ON), the Rainbow School Board (ON) and more, have followed.
Of course, these declarations are just the first step, but they do send a clear signal to all levels of school administration that climate concerns should be integral to any decision making. They underscore the school board's commitment to sustainability, and lend support to implementing other concrete policies. But, as the stories in the links above will show, they don't come without the hard work of parents, students, teachers and others.
Want to see your school declare a climate emergency? Check out the steps parents in Victoria took to get their declaration passed, then team up with parents in your school district to do the same. Get in touch, and we can help get you started!
