Forging a better future

Considering COP27 and climate change at Putney High School

As the world reflects on the impact of COP27, a Putney sixth form student who attended the last summit, Ananya, wrote in a letter to the UN: “Although significant progress was made, I believe so much more could, and should, have been achieved.” These words are taken from her winning entry in the University of Manchester’s “Words for your World” letter competition: “Tighter regulations by governments, improved disclosure by corporations and more transparent reporting should reduce ‘greenwashing’, and compel companies to make real changes, running their business more sustainably.”

So, what can businesses, and for that matter, schools, do to make a difference?

At this year’s summit, three Year 9 students, Darcey, Sana and Sophie, formed part of a youth presentation showcasing innovative climate initiatives. Their ‘Natural Nourishment’ app prototype, developed through the Lumi project, aims to reduce deforestation by addressing the use of palm oil in school lunches across the country. By connecting school leaders with palm oil free suppliers and educating students about palm oil free food alternatives, they hope to drastically reduce its use.

There is no shortage of eco-warriors at Putney High School. Our whole community knows that fundamentally, “It Starts with Me” and from our youngest junior “allotmenteers” to our sixth form eco-reps, everyone is engaged in making small, positive changes, which collectively promote change.

Our annual “BREATHE week” sees junior and senior pupils rolling up their sleeves to take part in litter-picks, treeplanting, ‘plastic hackathons’, or the myriad of workshops and projects designed to help us save electricity and reduce paper and food waste. Over the course of the week, the data we collect proves the measurable impact these projects have on reducing pollution, energy usage, and the school’s carbon footprint more broadly. Putney families join us in our efforts to fight pollution. Walking, scooting, and using public transport to get to school are now the preferred methods of travel, so much so that we are among the top 10% of London schools to have been awarded a TFL gold accreditation.

But it doesn’t end there. Our smaller initiatives are also providing fuel for bigger ideas. Every day, our design thinkers, Young Enterprise start-ups, and aspiring engineers are busy in the D.T. room and Putney’s new Innovation Centre, prototype testing and building the sustainable ideas that could one day have a positive impact on their futures.

From our RHS gold medalwinning Biophilic Classroom design to student-designed apps for recycling school uniform, and the appointment of our first “Ecologist in Residence”, Putney’s commitment to environment, clean energy, and a sustainable future is fully ingrained in the fabric of the school and in the ambitions of a generation determined to protect their planet.

www.putneyhigh.gdst.net