What are Green Schools and Why Do We Need Them?

Schools are where students learn the most important concepts and life skills they will carry with them through adulthood. Educational institutions have changed a lot, which is good, because the priorities of a decade ago are not the same priorities the new generation has. Case in point: green schools.

If you’re wondering what they are, here’s a primer on why they are important:

Sustainability at its core

Like the name says, green schools in Hong Kong are anchored on green practices. In every aspect of adult life, there are options to be more sustainable, and so it makes sense that at the root level, where children are still learning core skills, they are taught to care more about the environment. Green schools put sustainability practices at their core, with hopes of instilling the practices in each student, who will then be a contributor to society as an adult.

Impacting change, one school at a time

We cannot change the mind and practices of each person in the world, but what we can do is make a big enough impact with a lasting effect. This is the aim of supporters of green schools. By making sure the environment in which students learn also prioritizes saving the environment, doing so becomes second nature to everyone who attends the institution. Thus, by creating such an environment, you are creating change at the individual level, but with better-reaching consequences.

Not a chore, but a habit

When a child belongs to a family that has just recently adapted green practices, the transition from the wasteful to the mindful life could be jarring. They feel limited–because they are being told to abandon what they’re used to, in favor of something new. If they learn these practices at school, these become habits that they can then fall back on instead of feeling forced to commit to.

The world needs to change for the better, and that change needs to start somewhere. Encourage more green schools in your community to start.