All this last week we’re asking how green can you go?

Leeds Schools Green Day 2010 was launched on Thursday at Whitecote Primary School in Bramley. I joined children at the school and Councillor Judith Blake, executive board member for children’s services in a range of activities including n'power's Climate Cops, recycled art activities with support from a scrap arts group, a visit to a local organic farm to study vegetable growing and carry out a taste test and the launch of school ‘eco-monitors’ who will ensure lights and taps are turned off in school. And on Friday over 16,000 Leeds children and young people took up the challenge as they learned about how they can save the environment during Leeds Schools Green Day. This was the third Schools Green Day, which raises young people’s awareness of the environment and climate change while supporting efforts to make Leeds schools more sustainable. 43 schools across the city took part in the day, which has been organised by Education Leeds in partnership with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). Other activities taking place in schools in the city include walking buses, students wearing green outfits for the day, environmentally-themed assemblies, energy saving workshops and ‘no power hour/days’.

I am grateful to my colleague Steve Ruse who leads this important work for us and whose passion, enthusiams and commitment has achieved so much here in Leeds. Together our children and young people, as environmental ambassadors and climate cops and eco warriers, can and are making a huge difference and changing the world for the better.
Chris
Chris