Top marks for this project. Carbone Scol'ERE is an education programme, delivered free of charge to schools, that teaches children and their families to change their consumption habits, reduce their carbon footprints and live healthier lives. The emissions they save are quantified, verified, and converted into “Educational Carbon Credits”. And a new generation of climate-aware citizens is created.

What’s the background?

There are no government action plans or carbon markets to encourage schoolchildren to track their carbon footprint. But helping the younger generation to understand climate change, what causes it and how we can all do our bit, is crucial for the future of the planet.

What’s the solution?

In a series of five workshops during school hours, students aged between 9 and 12 are given challenges that they can take home to complete together with their families. These could include: Keep three electronic objects until their end of life Eat only fresh, local and seasonal fruits and vegetables Lower the central heating by 3 degrees day and night Take public transport instead of the car Start composting at home The pupils track their progress on a website and can see how many greenhouse gas emissions they’ve avoided.

What are the benefits?

Behaviour change researchers from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières conduct surveys at the end of the programme and again a year later to ensure the greener lifestyles have become long-term habits. Between 2010 and 2019 16,373 students completed the programme, resulting in almost 70,000 new eco-responsible lifestyle habits. That equals 63,309 tCO2e that have been avoided.