The VISION 2045 project, funded by the European Climate Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of the Federal Republic of Germany, has come to a close.
Reducing the use of plastic bottles in schools. Greening schoolyards and creating outdoor classrooms. Student energy managers.
These are three small, yet actually major and important steps toward climate neutrality that were successfully undertaken by four schools in Bulgaria: Dimitar Talev Secondary School and P.R. Slaveykov Secondary School in Dobrich, Vasil Karagyozov Language High School and Lyuben Karavelov Primary School in Yambol, as part of the VISION 2045 project. Today, they have accomplished what every Bulgarian municipality should have in place in twenty years.
Why did we focus on schools?
Schools are major energy consumers, but they are also the place where future generations are educated. Through VISION 2045, they took concrete steps to reduce their climate footprint and are now role models for other schools, universities, businesses, and even public institutions.
As part of the project, the schools’ climate footprint was calculated, teachers received training in Germany, and students developed roadmaps for achieving climate neutrality. They decided for themselves what actions to take and implemented them with the support of their teachers and experts. Municipalities, businesses, and parents also contributed.
What did the schools do?
Dimitar Talev and P.R. Slaveykov Secondary Schools in Dobrich organized a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bottles in school by providing access to clean, drinkable water in the buildings—water fountains with filters were installed.
If each student refills their reusable bottle once per day instead of buying a plastic one, the school’s carbon footprint would decrease by nearly 60 kilograms per day—that’s about 10 tons over a school year.
Vasil Karagyozov Language High School in Yambol launched a campaign on the importance of urban greening and developed a concept for climate change adaptation. As a result, the schoolyard was greened and an outdoor classroom was created. The Municipality of Yambol, parents, and landscaping experts helped bring the project to life. And of course, it’s much more pleasant to learn in a green environment than in a conventional, even air-conditioned, classroom.
Lyuben Karavelov Primary School in Yambol launched a campaign to introduce student energy manager teams—groups of students carrying out energy-saving activities and awareness campaigns for classmates and teachers. As a result, the school lighting was replaced with sensor-activated lamps, which immediately reduced electricity costs. There was also a noticeable change in student behavior and awareness of how their actions impact the climate and how they can make a difference.
The good examples set by these four schools deserve to be followed nationwide. VISION 2045 is already achievable today.
