The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Wins Pratt & Whitney Global E-STEM Award

FEE was chosen for their work to facilitate learning outcomes that support a transition to a circular economy for green transformation.

13 October 2022, Tucson (Arizona, USA): The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) was selected by Pratt & Whitney and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as a winner of the first-ever Pratt & Whitney Global E-STEM Awards. Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, Pratt & Whitney’s chief transformation and strategy officer, bestowed grants totalling $250,000 to 13 nonprofit organizations in 11 countries. Each group demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing environmental, science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) education programs for underrepresented students ages 11–18.

Eco-Schools Project Advancing Circular Economy (E-SPACE) teaches students about the circular economy, renewable energy, and waste reduction. The programme includes lesson plans for teachers in several languages, a chart on strategies to Advance Circular Economy and a curricular framework for Advancing Circular economy.

Each tool has been developed to support E-STEM competencies by enabling learners to acquire literacy in the form of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to take positive actions to reduce waste through the entire lifecycle and not only at the recycling stage. It will also help learners to support scientific temperament on not accepting the status quo and developing the agency for problem-solving by increasing circularity using different strategies.

Finally, the lesson plans promote engineering skills by asking to have choices like the individual's right to repair as an integral principle of a circular economy.  

“The transition towards a Circular Economy requires that we not only look at managing problems downstream but also focus on solutions upstream in the production and consumption systems by reimagining the design of the products and materials used. E-SPACE lesson plans will extend the limited scope of recycling materials initiatives to ultimately question current production and consumption systems by encouraging critical and analytical thinking for problem-solving to promote critical actions based on science at the local level for global issues”, said Daniel Schaffer, CEO of FEE.

The prize will help FEE to expand the initial pilot project to 80 schools in eight countries in South America, Africa, and Asia.

A panel of judges from Pratt & Whitney and NAAEE selected the recipients from a pool of nearly 175 applicants spanning 40 countries who applied between May and July 2022. The winners were announced in Tucson, Arizona, during NAAEE2022 Annual International Conference, with the theme Educating for Change. 

Learn more about all of this year’s winners by reading their biographies: http://prattwhitney.com/ESTEM

Pratt & Whitney’s corporate social responsibility program supports initiatives that emphasize a laser focus on innovation and performance, inspire the next generation, and empower employees to positively impact communities. The company is committed to ensuring that future generations of engines drive further reductions in CO2 emissions, decrease noise, and are ready to operate with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Click here to learn more about the future of sustainable aviation.

European Commission, FEE and GoodPlanet Belgium welcome the Running Out of Time baton in Brussels!

11 October 2022, Brussel: On Tuesday 11 October, the Running Out of Time relay passed through Brussels, Belgium where representatives from GoodPlanet Belgium, member of the Foundation for Environmental Education, the European Commission and former FEE President Jan Eriksen were present to welcome the relay baton. 

After a 10 day 1,676km journey through Scotland, Wales and England carried by runners and cyclists, the relay baton arrived at the shore of France on Sunday, October 9th, its safe crossing of the English Channel ensured by rowers, sailors and windsurfers working together. That baton was carried through France with the support of our partner, the Office for Climate Education, arriving in Belgium on Monday afternoon.

As the seat of the European Union and the European Commission, Brussels is a significant stage along the relay route, and it was an honour to have Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit – Schools and Multilingualism from the European Commission participate in the baton handover event. The European Commission schools policy team joined the event to show their support for the initiative. Mr. Teutsch spoke about the work underway to foster closer cooperation between EU countries on sustainability in education and training.  

Jan Eriksen, Former President of the Foundation for Environmental Education was also present and reiterated the importance of universal, quality climate education and highlighted that to ensure equitable access to it for all we must involve stakeholders at every level from children and youth, teachers, local and national initiatives and policy makers to global networks and institutional policy development programmes and agencies: “FEE represents a global network of civil society practitioners, with dedicated members such as GoodPlanet Belgium, that have significant experience implementing climate education on the ground. The European Commission facilitates the global discussion, developing tools and supporting action plans that address climate change at the European level. Partnerships and dialogue between global or regional stakeholders such as the Commission and grassroot initiatives such as Running Out of Time, offer an opportunity to develop global policies and actions that better support the efforts of civil society actors, and help grassroot initiatives identify where they can achieve the greatest impact and encourage positive change.” 

Key to the success of the Running Out of Time relay in Belgium has been the support of the FEE member, GoodPlanet Belgium. GoodPlanet Belgium is responsible for running the Green Key, Blue Flag and YRE programmes in Belgium, and the Eco-Schools programme in Brussels and Wallonia. For over 20 years, GoodPlanet Belgium has been contributing to sustainable development in Belgium through projects, campaigns and climate education.

Students from local schools were also present to celebrate the arrival of the baton.

"Environmental education has been at the heart of our work for 25 years. Every year, we visit 3,500 schools from kindergarten to university throughout Belgium. We sincerely believe that children need to be given the keys to understand the climate issues so that they can act at their own level and contribute to the transition to a more sustainable society. Next to education, we also help and encourage the implementation of concrete actions such as the creation of school streets, greener playgrounds, or sustainable canteens.”  - Jo Van Cauwenberge, Director of GoodPlanet Belgium

The baton continues along the route, with a handover planned in Bonn, where it will be welcomed on October 14 by representatives of the UNFCCC in the presence of FEE President, Lesley Jones.

Young Reporters on the Route: Relay hits Grow 73!

By Isabelle Mack, Age 11, Young Reporter for the Environment, Scotland

Running Out Of Time is going from COP26 Scotland to COP27 in Egypt. Runners, cyclists and sailors passing through lots of places in the UK to show the baton which carries an important inspiring message inside. Running Out of Time is on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @climaterelay.

Due to weather conditions, the relay took off at Sunnyside Primary instead of Glasgow Green. The runners did fantastically, they were 3 minutes late but very determined on making up the time to get to Boswell community garden.

Grow 73 is in Rutherglen, in the south of Glasgow. It’s a community garden open to the public to come along and do some gardening. There’s a wide range of ages helping out. Grow 73 all about growing food, growing the community and growing diversity.

One of the runners, Kenny Alexander, had finished running for the relay while the other 2 went on. Kenny started at the Peoples Palace to Grow 73! Kenny ran because he wanted to apologise to me and my generation having to live in such a horrible world that adults are handing over too us. He hopes that at COP27 world leaders will have seen the changes in our climate due to climate change and will make adult decisions and take action now. He said “NO MORE BLAH BLAH, some actual changes!”

I spoke to Barbra who tried to come as much as she could when she has free time and hoping to come more regularly. She thinks that climate change is a huge issue and makes sure she puts her rubbish in the correct bin. Although it’s only a small change it makes a big difference and if everyone did that the world would be a much better place.

Lesley Jones is the President of FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). FEE is an NGO and one of the world’s largest organisations for education for the sustainable development. It’s active in 81 countries! Lesley is also the Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy.

Lesley Jones was at Grow 73!!! Lesley said “FEE was created 40 years ago by a couple of people that had visited a big conference about the importance of environmental education in 1977. The 4 people that went came back demanded the UK need to do something about this. They’d bring people together and explain why we need to change. 30 years ago France created a program called Blue Flag. France thought it would be better if it wasn’t just run in France, so many other countries joined in including Scotland and Wales. She hopes that at COP27 things will actually start happening now and we’ll see the changes, businesses need to be forced to make a difference and of course raise awareness to everyone so everyone can make a difference”.

Susie from Community Rails came to Grow 73 to share why it’s good to take the train and how it’s more sustainable too take the train and to chat to people, become a part a community. She said people can make smarter but simple changes in their life; take the train, plant more plants, recycle and tell others ways to recycle.

I spoke to Eugenie the co-founder of Grow 73. She said, “Grow 73 tackles climate by using what they can find so recycling old materials”.

Not only was it a more sustainable way it was a cheaper way as they didn’t have much money but a lot of old materials. There’s all old barrows to planet things in, there’s old telephone poles they’re planning on cutting so can make a fence. She tries to get people outside but it can be hard as some children think if there isn’t a swing there’s nothing to do outside. But once you get people out they really enjoying chatting and playing. She hopes that people will see potential like she did when she saw the old piece of locked up landed that’s turned into Grow 73. Everyone can make difference even if you’re really struggling with money, whether it’s turning an old whisky barrel into a plant pot. You don’t have to be a professional gardener to plant a potato.

If you’re in the area I definitely would recommend visiting Grow 73! It’s such a positive safe place to go a relax but still be proactive.

About Isabelle

“My name is Isabelle, I am eleven and live in Stow in the Scottish Borders. I was born in France and moved to Scotland when I was four. My primary school was very active in promoting Learning for Sustainability which inspired my interest in climate action. I enjoy using persuasive writing to encourage others including world leaders to make a difference and change the world. I’ve had replies from Nicola Sturgeon, Netta Meadows (the chief executive of my local authority), Jane Goodall and a handwritten letter from David Attenborough!”

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Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Scotland, the YRE programme is coordinated by our member, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Universalization of Quality Climate Education

Where are we and where do we go from here? 

#HelpUsGetThere

10th October I 15:00-16:30 CEST

We are Running Out of Time.

Quality climate education is critical if we are to equip people of all ages with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a future in which all can thrive. 

Young people need to be recognised as leaders, placed at the forefront of the conversation about climate change and empowered through education. 

We are calling on the world’s leaders to provide us with the skills and training to build a sustainable world. 

Our world is warming and to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees, we need forward thinking, consistent policies and funding to help us reach Net Zero Emissions. 

We are committed to help build a future that is inclusive and sustainable for all. 

Show by your actions, not just words, that you are too. 

Help us get there! 

This is the message that will be sealed in the Running Out of Time baton on the 30th of September in Glasgow, Scotland and carried by thousands of runners, cyclists, and sailors through 18 countries to decision-makers at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.  

In this webinar, you will hear from leading organisations and departments in the field of climate change education, including UN agencies, ministries, and global NGOs. You will learn about the many efforts already being taken to secure universal climate education – and the obstacles we still need to overcome. 

Speakers

Pramod Kumar Sharma - Senior Director of Education, Foundation for Environmental Education

Deirdre Hodson - Policy Officer, School Education Policy, European Commission

Won Jung Byon - Programme Specialist, Section of Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO

Ewurasi Nnadozie - Head of International, Comms and Events, Sustainability and Climate Change Unit, UK Department of Education

Fleur Newman - Unit Lead, Action for Climate Empowerment, UNFCCC

Kathleen Rogers - President, Earthday.org

Registration 

Climate change affects us all, meaning that this webinar is relevant to everyone! 500 people will be able to join online. Secure your spot here:  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The webinar will also be livestreamed on YouTube. 

FEE x Running Out of Time

Runner Registration Opens for Climate Relay to COP27 ‘Running Out of Time’

FEE is proud to be supporting the Running Out of Time relay; a 7,767km, 38-day run, crossing 18 countries between Glasgow and Sharm el-Sheikh. The world’s longest ever non-stop relay to take place in the name of climate action!

Registration opens today for runners to sign up for a stage of Running Out of Time, an extraordinary 7,767km, non-stop relay from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host) in the name of climate action. 

Running Out of Time will be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted with runners passing a baton containing a powerful climate change message from young people to the decision-makers at COP27. Organised by The World Relay Ltd, the relay route is split into 685 stages that are around 10km each which runners can sign up for. The relay runs day and night for 38 days and travels to 18 countries. 

The relay will begin with an opening ceremony in COP26 host city Glasgow on September 30th 2022 – where the message will be sealed in the baton. Carried by runners, cyclists and sailors, it will journey through Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 6th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 6th-18th November 2022.

Along the route the baton will cross seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, villages, towns and capital cities. It will visit hundreds of schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects to inspire and champion local climate action. Running Out of Time will also be fundraising for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy. 

Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder Danny Bent says “Extraordinary change requires extraordinary effort - it’s everything Running Out of Time is about. We want everyone that’s passionate about climate change and our planet to sign up for a stage of the relay and help us deliver a powerful message with so much support that it is impossible to ignore”.

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collaborative effort of a great many partners and supporters.

During the relay up to a million pupils from around the world will be brought together for a Schools Action Day on 3rd November - an exciting virtual programme that champions climate change solutions while empowering young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning.

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won’t miss out! They’re invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay on November 5th 2022 which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in the name of climate action. 

Register to take part: www.running-out-of-time.com  

KEY DATES

Registration Opens: June 22nd 2022 // Relay start date: Friday 30th September 2022, Glasgow, Scotland. Opening ceremony in collaboration with Glasgow City Council // Schools Action Day Thursday 3rd November // Global virtual relay: Saturday 5th November 2022  // Relay end date: Sunday 6th November 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

WEBSITE: www.running-out-of-time.com 

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collective effort of a great many partners and supporters.

About The World Relay Ltd are multi-award winning global leaders in mass participation relays best known for their One Run series. Co-Founded by runners, adventurers and Guinness World Record holders Danny Bent and James Hay, their mission started in 2013 with One Run for Boston; a non-stop relay across the US on behalf of the victims of the Boston marathon bombings. Since then they’ve organised relays all over the world including relays across the USA and two non-stop month-long relays in London. Awarded honours for these events include Runner's World 'Heroes of Running'. Over 200k runners have participated in One Run relays raising over £1.9 million for good causes.In 2021, 165 000 students and runners from 195 countries came together for global unity in the One Run Global Relay – a 24 hour virtual relay around the world.  www.theworldrelay.com  

One Run (@onerun_global) • Instagram  / One Run - Home | Facebook  / One Run Global (@OneRunGlobal) / Twitter 

About Danny Bent - Danny was voted one of the 100 happiest people in the UK and one of the 50 most inspirational people in London. He is an award winning author and journalist, Guinness World Record holder, and celebrated adventurer and community leader. www.dannybent.com Danny Bent, Running Out of Time’s Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder says “We are so super proud to have this opportunity to amplify the voice of our youth and to help raise awareness of the climate crisis. We want to show what can be achieved if we all work together - a symbol to today’s decision makers who hold the key to a unified solution.”

About Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries and a network of over 60,000 educational institutions. http://www.fee.global/ 

About Carbon Copy is a UK charity that inspires big-thinking local climate action to accelerate our progress towards a fairer, carbon zero future. https://carboncopy.eco/  

Press Release - ‘Running Out of Time’ the World’s Longest Non-Stop Relay Announced in the Name of Climate Action

Extraordinary change requires extraordinary effort.

Saturday 7th May 2022, London: Today, to mark the six month countdown to COP27, mass-participation relay organisers The World Relay announce Running Out of Time, a 7,200km, 38-day, non-stop relay from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host) in the name of climate action, inviting runners to register to take part and pass the baton.

Broken down into 10km stages, it will be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted with runners, cyclists and sailors working together to pass a baton containing a powerful climate message from young people to the decision makers at COP27.

The impact of climate change on our planet will be felt most by our youth and future generations. Their collective voice needs to be heard. The aim is to deliver their message with so much support that it is impossible to ignore.

From the opening ceremony in COP26 host city Glasgow on September 30th 2022 – where the message will be sealed in the baton - the relay will journey through 18 countries - UK (Scotland, Wales, England), France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 6th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 7th-18th November 2022.

Danny Bent, Running Out of Time’s Relay Director, runner and Guinness World Record holder says “We are so super proud to have this opportunity to amplify the voice of our youth and to help raise awareness of the climate crisis. We want to show what can be achieved if we all work together - a symbol to today’s decision makers who hold the key to a unified solution.”

Along the extraordinary route, the baton will cross seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts and visit schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects meeting scientists, engineers and designers at the forefront of the green revolution to better understand what is happening to our planet and to inspire local climate action. Running Out of Time will also be fundraising for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy.

Ric Casale, Co Founder, Carbon Copy says “Carbon Copy is delighted to team up with One Run for this extraordinary event. The relay is so symbolic of the ambition and collaboration we wish to see at COP27, and that we already see in the people working together locally to address the biodiversity and climate crises. This relay will also be a common thread that links thousands of inspiring climate action stories, showcasing leadership at all levels and encouraging more people to join in by doing something similar. Collective local climate action is having an impact globally, and we look forward to taking these stories to COP27 and sharing them with governments from around the world.”

During the relay up to a million pupils from around the world will be brought together for a Global Schools Day - an exciting virtual programme that champions climate change solutions while empowering young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning.

Lesley Jones, President, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) says “At a time where climate change is an increasingly urgent cross-cutting issue, FEE has chosen to prioritise climate action as part of its ten-year strategy, GAIA 20:30. There are many pathways to mitigating the impacts of climate change, and we believe that education and collaboration play crucial roles in driving climate action to overcome the challenges facing our planet. It has to be education that shows and guides us to positive solutions. The Running Out Of Time relay will not only connect those people along the route from Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh, but bring us all together to address a problem on a global scale. We are hopeful and excited for the relay baton to become a rallying point and a call for quality climate change education around the world.”

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won’t miss out. They’re invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in a demonstration of togetherness and radical inclusivity in the name of climate action.

The general public can register to take part and pass the baton from May 7th via www.running-out-of-time.com  and will be invited to select their chosen 10km stage in June.

Editor Notes

Media contact: Larissa Clark info@thischapter.co.uk +47 46852672 (Oslo) for more information, interviews and press hosting opportunities. Press images: available via LINK

KEY DATES

Register your interest to run: from May 7th 2022 // Relay start date: Friday 30th September 2022, Glasgow, Scotland. Opening ceremony in collaboration with Glasgow City Council // Global virtual relay: Saturday 5th November 2022  // Relay end date: Sunday 6th November 2022, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

KEY FACTS

Duration: 38 days // Distance: 7,200km // Number of stages: 685 // Distance per stage 10km // Countries: 18

WEBSITE: www.running-out-of-time.com

Running Out of Time is made possible thanks to the collective effort of a great many partners and supporters. The full list of supporting organisations will be made available in June 2022.

About The World Relay Ltd are multi-award winning global leaders in mass participation relays best known for their One Run series. Co-Founded by runners, adventurers and Guinness World Record holders Danny Bent and James Hay, their mission started in 2013 with One Run for Boston; a non-stop relay across the US on behalf of the victims of the Boston marathon bombings. Since then they’ve organised relays all over the world including relays across the USA and two non-stop month-long relays in London. Awarded honours for these events include Runner's World 'Heroes of Running'. Over 200k runners have participated in One Run relays raising over £1.9 million for good causes.In 2021, 165 000 students and runners from 195 countries came together for global unity in the One Run Global Relay – a 24 hour virtual relay around the world.  www.theworldrelay.com 

One Run (@onerun_global) • Instagram  / One Run - Home | Facebook  / One Run Global (@OneRunGlobal) / Twitter

About Danny Bent - Danny was voted one of the 100 happiest people in the UK and one of the 50 most inspirational people in London. He is an award winning author and journalist, Guinness World Record holder, and celebrated adventurer and community leader. www.dannybent.com

Carbon Copy is a UK charity that inspires big-thinking local climate action to accelerate our progress towards a fairer, carbon zero future. https://carboncopy.eco/  

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries and a network of over 60,000 educational institutions. http://www.fee.global/