The Church of England has set an ambitious target to reach net zero carbon by 2030 across the whole estate. Schools have an important role to play in all aspects of sustainability including reducing our environmental footprint. 

The target is part of the Church of England’s Net Zero by 2030 programme. This aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport by 2030. 

Rory Quinn, Project Support Officer, Net Zero Carbon Schools, said: “Tackling climate change shows we hear young people and their concerns and that we are taking action to ensure our beautiful planet can flourish - now and for the future.  

“Schools, by their very nature, are high emitters of carbon. Older heating systems, high energy use and poor insulation can mean our schools emit lots of carbon into the atmosphere, which is harmful to the environment. 

“We’re excited to share this new animation which we hope will give a snapshot of what steps can be taken and encourage schools to investigate further. We know the task of decarbonising a school can feel overwhelming – that’s why there’s a wealth of support available.”  

Over £1.5 million has been allocated from the Church of England’s Net Zero Programme to fund initial analysis work to help understand how to fully decarbonise a school. Schools may be eligible for grants to help pay for heat decarbonisation plans and further support to retrofit buildings. 

A new national framework was launched last year to help schools navigate this net zero journey. Over 100 Heat Decarbonisation Plans have been funded along with 33 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme applications.