Schools took part in the event at the Swansea.com Stadium to learn more about ‘liquid trees’ which capture carbon from the atmosphere, making for cleaner air.
Sponsored by Swansea Building Society, Our Classroom Climate is now available to all primary schools in Swansea, making Swansea the first city to introduce liquid trees into all of its primary-level education establishments.
The vibrant assembly at the stadium on 15 March brought together educators, leaders, and community stalwarts, including Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, and Cllr Rebecca Fogarty, chair of Swansea Council’s Climate Change & Nature Recovery Service Transformation Committee, to celebrate the fusion of cutting-edge climate education within school curriculums.
At the event, Swansea pupils showcased their climate change journey and ran interactive lessons with a very esteemed audience.
They even showed how they capture carbon in their classrooms.
Mark Douglas, Founder of Our Classroom Climate, expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “Today is a momentous occasion that underscores our collective commitment to confronting climate change. It’s a day where we unite across various sectors to make a meaningful impact. Our program is designed to be an enjoyable educational journey, and we urge entities at all levels to help us roll this out across UK schools, positioning us as a global beacon for positive change.”
Recapping her experience at the event, the Climate Minister wrote: “I was struck by the enthusiasm and knowledge demonstrated by the learners, and how this has sparked engagement with parents and carers. Everyone in Wales has a part to play in helping us to achieve a low carbon future. The voices of our children and young people are crucial to this. Learning about the environmental challenges we face and recognising the steps we can take in combatting the Climate Emergency is an essential part of a 21st century education.”
Swansea University Employability Academy (SEA) say they have reaped the benefits of collaborating with Mark on numerous impactful employability initiatives, including the noteworthy Bee1 project, as noted by Lucy Griffiths, Head of SEA. This project introduced beekeeping to Swansea University campuses, facilitating student re-engagement post-pandemic and equipping them with valuable skills for their professional growth.
“Mark’s latest initiative, Our Classroom Climate, perfectly aligns with SEA’s Ethical Careers Policy, offering students invaluable insights into sustainability and hands-on experience in the green sector through internships and activities like teaching primary schoolers about carbon capture with the innovative liquid trees,” Griffiths added.
Dr. Alla Silkina from Swansea University’s Centre of Sustainable Aquatic Research shared her excitement about contributing to this initiative by providing starter packs of Spirulina culture to initiate the liquid trees in classrooms.
“These packs are not just educational; they’re practical tools for capturing CO2, improving indoor air quality, and moving towards net-zero emissions,” she explained.
The event also featured insightful presentations from Professor Geraint Jones and Dr. Rhys Jones, a Q&A with experts, and access to innovative teaching resources, all aimed at making climate science engaging and accessible for students, thereby enriching their educational experience.
Nathan Griffiths from Swansea Building Society commented: “We’re proud to have played a key role in facilitating the Swansea Schools & Climate Education event and the ‘liquid trees’ initiative. Providing these advanced bioreactors to schools is part of our commitment to empowering the younger generation to tackle climate change effectively. This reflects Swansea Building Society’s dedication to sustainable projects and environmental education among Swansea’s youth, striving to create a legacy of positive change for future generations.”
Paul Broderick, CEO of Bluestones Group, added, “We work with hundreds of schools across the whole of Wales and see on a daily basis the impact that climate change anxiety is having on our country’s pupils.”
Talking about the importance of a coordinated approach he continued: “We were compelled to support OCC in their mission to change attitudes to climate change “one classroom at a time” and so we have built a companion package of teacher CPD including a Certificate in Sustainability & Climate Change Education, which we are providing free to all Swansea schools signed up to the OCC programme.”
