Hot weather is upon us again, and many of our children are sitting in hot classrooms with no air conditioning. Our schools are not ready for the climate crisis that is already upon us. We need action now from the Trustees of the Upper Grand District School Board to keep our children safe and comfortable.
The June 2024 heat wave, enhanced by climate change, had a significant impact on students in eleven schools without air conditioning in our school board. These eleven schools should have top priority for retrofitting to install heat pumps to address student well-being during heat waves in the short-term and climate change in the long term.
We want the UGDSB to:
- Develop a whole-institution Climate Action Plan.
- Outline clear greenhouse gas emission targets in line with the Paris Agreement (for example, the TDSB and two school boards in BC have set targets to achieve net-zero emissions within their buildings by 2050 see Richmond School District, Greater Victoria School District, and TDSB.
- Outline climate action initiatives at all levels of school governance (administrators, operations staff, teachers and students). Resource.
- This will help to reduce board facilities from contributing to climate change and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
- Prioritize schools without air conditioning, include a timeline for annual reporting, and prepare a plan in anticipation of funding. The plan must anticipate and be ready for funding from senior levels of government so as to not miss out when those opportunities arise.
- Allocate staff time and financial resources to the implementation and ongoing support of climate action initiatives.
- Formally communicate by resolution with the provincial and federal governments on the need for assistance.
- Schools serve as more than sites of learning, often being used by the entire community in times of emergencies. All levels of government have a responsibility here.
As Dr. Ellen Field and Sidney Howlett point out in the Climate Change Leadership 2023 Review, “While the climate crisis necessitates leadership and action from all sectors, educational institutions, as community focal points, possess extensive reach across Canada, encompassing students, staff, parents, and the public.”.
The UGDSB is in a prime position to influence community climate action. The time is now for the UGDSB to demonstrate commitment and leadership by taking the above meaningful actions toward a just and sustainable future.
