• Electricity is sourced from renewable energy via hydro-power through the School's energy supplier
• St George's is accredited with Ecological Waste Management SuperDrecksKëscht® certificate for efforts in waste management:
  • Food waste is recycled and reused for biofuel
  • The School has an active recycling policy and management system for paper, card, plastic, food, batteries, electrical waste etc
• St George's supports initiatives for smart resourcing:
  • Thermal heating – Central heating switches off automatically in the admin building when windows are open to conserve energy
  • Paper usage – Weekly papercut reports are generated and monitored to track usage of paper and identify ways to reduce usage 
• The School has implemented an ongoing effort to source sustainable materials, for example products with a low carbon footprint or made from recyclable materials to promote closed loop and circular economy consumption.

Climate Clock: Countdown of global carbon budget remaining

St George's School Climate Pledge

On 26th October 2021, St George’s International School Luxembourg committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as part of a School Climate Pledge. The pledge is part of the school’s decarbonisation plan and will help to broaden student understanding of emissions, climate change and how everyone can make a difference.    

St George’s Principal Dr Christian Barkei says the Climate Pledge aims to significantly reduce the school’s emissions with a goal of net zero. This will promote and support the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan and the Paris 2050 targets. 

The school plans to achieve its goal through projects to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing school traffic, assisting with reforestation programmes, green procurement, weekly meat-free days in the canteen and more. 

“Everyone can make a difference – and these little daily differences in behaviour and consumption can be straightforward and simple, but they do add up to substantial and lasting change."  Dr Barkei, Principal

St George’s estimates that it generates an average of 600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year through school services. It forecasts that more than 100 tonnes of emissions can be avoided with planned projects over the next couple of years. For example, one meat-free day in the canteen can save 500kg of emissions. Choosing sustainable stationery can save 10kg per student per year and taking the bus or carpooling to school reduces emissions by 30 per cent per journey. 

Our Climate Pledge 

We have the power in our school and local community to make a positive difference to climate change. ​ 

We will use our actions and voices, to bring about change. We will lead and encourage others to work with us to: ​ 

1.   Cut school emissions to net zero ​ 

2.   Support and promote biodiversity ​ 

3.   Be smart with our resources and reduce, reuse, recycle  

============================= 

Mir hunn an eiser Schoul an an der lokaler ​ 

gemeinschaft d’Muecht fir de Klimawandel positiv ze beaflossen 

Mir wäerten eist Handelen an eis Stëmm notze fir verännerungen erbäizeféieren. 

Mir wäerte virgoen an aner encouragéieren mat eis zesummen ze schaffe fir: 

1.          D’Emissioun vun der Schoul op Null ze reduzéieren 

2.          Diversitéit vun den Aarten ze ënnerstëtzen an ze promovéieren  

3.          En intelligenten Ëmgang mat eise Ressourcen

• Ministry of Environment – Students from Years 8 to 10 coordinate eco-projects in Secondary school
• Eco-Council – Students from Years 3 to 6 coordinate eco-projects in Primary school
• Eco-Agent – Network eco-agents in each class from Years 3 to 10 support the Ministry of Environment and Eco-council eco-projects
• Recycling and Up-cycling Club – After-school club for students to upcycle items and learn the principals of recycling, how long things take to degrade and how to give new life to things
• Eco-Committee – students from Ministry of Environment and Eco-council attend this meeting twice a term and are supported by School Staff Management and the Board of Governors to discuss and monitor eco-projects

Event Details 

Date: Friday 28th April 2023  
Hosted by St George’s at St George’s School, 11 Rue des Peupliers, 2328 Luxembourg 

Attendees:

• Event will be opened by British Ambassador, Fleur Thomas 

• Guest speaker Filip Westerlund 

Schools attending:

• St George’s International School 

• Lycée Classique d'Echternach 

• Lycée Robert-Schuman 

• Lycée Vauban 

• ISL (International School of Luxembourg) 

• European School I 

• European School II

Student workshops organised by:

• Target4Green https://www.target4green.com/  

• Youth4Planet https://youth4planet.com/   

• Luxembourg Earth Ship https://aerdscheff.cell.lu  

• Rethink your clothes Accueil - Rethink your clothes

Sustainability Exhibition showcasing sustainability in Luxembourg will be open for school community from 11am to 5pm. Further details to follow.

Summary of event

• Catalyst event for launching sustainability awareness and opportunities in school​ 

• Connect students with local organisation and global student network​ 

• Strengthening students’ & teachers’ capacity to own climate and SDGs issues 

• Fostering student collaboration and action across and within national/local communities and global student network 

• Confronting students & teachers with experts in these issues; companies and organisations 

• Providing solutions to local/global sustainable development issues; and developing greater respect for the environment and society 
   

History of Beyond COP21/Symposium

• Hosted over 30 times across 11 countries ​ 

Host schools have included:

• Dulwich College, UK 

• Eton College, UK 

• Leman IS, China,  

• ISHCMC, Vietnam 

• Taipei European School, Taiwan​ 

• Holy Name of Mary College School, Canada 

• Tanglin Trust School, Singapore 

References

• Dulwich College, UK “The symposium was one of the best speaker/conference events the College has run. Students and staff were highly engaged. Peter Milne was inspirational with impressive network of contacts for guest speakers. Peter’s success at connecting and motivating students means Dulwich will now run the symposium as an annual due to its success” 

• Recent article in International Teacher Magazine Climate change and education (consiliumeducation.com)  

• Eton Symposium March 2022  
• Lancing College | Focusing on Sustainability 
• Dulwich Symposium October 2021