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Going green

Climate change and pollution are issues that affect every one of us. It's up to everyone to do as much as they can to help the environment.

There are solutions that can help but everyone needs to get involved if we are going to make them work.

School

As well as doing your bit at home, you and your mates can also do some things at school that can help.

Getting to school

If you usually get driven to school, you could find out if there is another way to get there.

You could use public transport or take a school bus. Because they can carry lots of people, taking a bus or a train reduces the amount of CO2 released into the air.

If you live close to your school, why not walk or cycle? As well as being better for the environment, it's a great way of getting some exercise.

If a car is the only way to get to school, find out if you and your friends could set up a car sharing scheme. Instead of travelling in separate cars, you could all get to school in the same one instead.

• Walk to school Opens new window

In the classroom

On average, each person in the UK gets through 200 kilograms of paper every year. If you can, try and use both sides of a piece of paper before you throw it away. It's also a good idea to make sure that you are using recycled paper.

If you're in an IT class or the computer room doing some research, think before you print something out. Do you really need a paper copy of what you're looking at?

You can also recycle or refill printer cartridges. Talk to a teacher and make sure that your school is not just putting them in the bin when they run out.

• Get other recycling ideas for the classroom Opens new window

Food and drink

Food and drink

Whether you eat a packed lunch from home or buy something from school, it's surprising what you can do at lunchtime to help the environment. For example:

• if your school doesn't have any recycling bins in the dining hall or canteen, talk to your headteacher to see if you can get some
• if you drink water from plastic bottles, keep and refill them instead of throwing them away
• find out whether your school could turn their food waste into compost instead of just putting it in the bin
  

Taking the lead

You can make sure your school is doing all it can for the environment by making a list of changes you’d like to see.

A teacher can help you introduce your ideas into school. They can also register your school with a nationwide environmental scheme, like the eco-schools programme.

• The eco-schools programme Opens new window

When lessons are over

Being green isn’t something you just do at school. You can do your bit for the planet when you’re at home or if you’re out and about.

• Being greener every day

Useful contacts

• Young people contacts