Schools will need Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Lead by September

Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Lead required by September

Schools in England must have a Climate Action Plan in place by September 2025, as mandated by the UK's Department for Education (DfE). In its 2022 Climate and Sustainability Strategy, the UK Government laid out a multi-pronged approach to ensure that the education sector is also tackling climate change. Along with a Climate Action Plan, schools must appoint a Sustainability Lead to champion the plan. In this article, our partners at Sustainable Energy First (exclusive suppliers of our updated Utilities Supplies and Services framework) have summarised what schools need to know - and how to get started. 

Who has to comply and what are the requirements?

Early years settings, schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges and universities are all required to comply. While the government strategy outlined many topics, the most pressing deadline for schools is September. In more detail, education settings must:

Create a Climate Action Plan. This is a comprehensive strategy that details how a school will work to decarbonise and improve its energy efficiency, in line with achieving the UK’s net zero goals. Climate Action Plans can include taking steps to improve heating and cooling systems, infrastructure and insulation and educating staff and students on the climate emergency.

Appoint a Sustainability Lead. The role of the Sustainability Lead is to drive forward both action and awareness for the school. Along with developing the Climate Action Plan, the Sustainability Lead will typically also monitor and report progress, build community engagement, and, in schools, integrate sustainability into the curriculum. 

What resources are available to support the sector in achieving net zero?

The Department for Education has created Sustainability Support for Education, which is a free online resource to ensure that schools have access to accurate, correct information. The site is laid out to help Sustainability Leads and teams structure their Climate Action Plans step-by-step, as well as categorising common questions by topic. Information can be filtered based on teaching age, priorities, how far you’ve progressed already, estate and more. 

What happens if schools do not meet the September deadline?

While DfE has said that Climate Action Plans should be completed and Sustainability Leaders selected by this September, the repercussions of not meeting this deadline are still unclear. However, the UK Government Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy noted that progress against national targets will be published from 2025 onwards. Thus, this may mean that schools falling behind on the deadline could face possible criticism when progress, or lack thereof, is published.

Get started on your Climate Action Plan

Wondering what the best first steps are when it comes to your Climate Action Plan? The Energy and Compliance Consultants at Sustainable Energy First can offer specialised support in targeting your net zero goals. Whether greening your energy supply or completing an energy audit, the SE First team can help you sift through the information to get started. 

Get in touch with the experts at Sustainable Energy First today for a free, no-obligation conversation.