Course description

A focused professional learning journey.

Whole-school sustainability connects what learners study with how a school uses energy, food, materials, space and transport. It replaces isolated awareness days with an ongoing process in which learners investigate real systems, participate in decisions and measure change.

This course combines climate pedagogy, systems thinking and practical organisational planning. Participants conduct mini-audits, design curriculum-linked challenges and create a 90-day roadmap suited to their school’s starting point.

Who is this course for?

Teachers, eco-coordinators, school leaders and education staff.

Education settingsSchool, VET, adult and non-formal learning Prior experienceNo specialist expertise unless stated RecommendedBring a laptop or tablet where possible

Course objectives

Teach climate change accurately and age-appropriately
Respond constructively to climate emotions and misinformation
Use the school as a living laboratory for inquiry
Apply systems thinking to everyday sustainability challenges
Strengthen learner voice and community partnership
Set indicators that make environmental progress visible

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Facilitate an empowering climate-learning activity
Complete a basic school sustainability scan
Map causes, consequences and leverage points
Design an interdisciplinary learner-led challenge
Create participation and communication structures
Produce a measurable 90-day sustainability roadmap

Detailed 5-day programme

Fifteen connected modules, from understanding to confident application.

Day 1

Climate Learning That Builds Agency

Module 01

Essential Climate Literacy for Educators

Clarify weather and climate, greenhouse effect, mitigation, adaptation, evidence and uncertainty using teachable models and misconceptions.

Module 02

From Eco-Anxiety to Informed Action

Use emotionally safe discussion, realistic hope and collective efficacy. Avoid catastrophism, false reassurance and placing responsibility only on individuals.

Module 03 · Applied workshop

Climate Dialogue and Agency Workshop

Facilitate an age-appropriate climate conversation that addresses misconceptions and difficult emotions while connecting evidence with realistic collective action.

Practical outcome: Climate-learning activity with emotional safeguards

Day 2

The School as a Living Laboratory

Module 04

Energy, Buildings and Mobility

Investigate where energy is used, how travel choices are shaped and which questions learners can explore with available evidence.

Module 05

Materials, Food, Water and Biodiversity

Trace resource flows and identify waste prevention, circular practice, greener food systems and opportunities for habitat improvement.

Module 06 · Applied workshop

School Sustainability Field Audit

Collect baseline observations on energy, mobility, materials, food, water or biodiversity and turn them into investigable questions for learners.

Practical outcome: School sustainability baseline scan

Day 3

Curriculum, Inquiry and Systems Thinking

Module 07

Connecting Sustainability Across Subjects

Create authentic links with science, mathematics, language, citizenship, arts and vocational learning rather than adding disconnected environmental content.

Module 08

Causes, Feedback Loops and Leverage Points

Use simple systems maps to move beyond single-cause explanations and identify actions that can influence structures, routines or beliefs.

Module 09 · Applied workshop

Systems Mapping Laboratory

Build a causal map of a school sustainability challenge, identify feedback loops and distinguish visible symptoms from deeper leverage points.

Practical outcome: Interdisciplinary sustainability inquiry

Day 4

Learner Voice and Community Partnership

Module 10

Participation With Real Influence

Design eco-teams, class consultations and decision processes in which learners can investigate, propose, negotiate and receive transparent responses.

Module 11

Communicating Change Without Greenwashing

Work with families, municipalities and local organisations; communicate evidence, limitations and progress without exaggerated environmental claims.

Module 12 · Applied workshop

Learner Assembly and Stakeholder Simulation

Negotiate a proposed action from learner, teacher, leadership, family and community perspectives and design participation with genuine influence.

Practical outcome: Learner-participation and stakeholder plan

Day 5

Whole-School Action Studio

Module 13

Targets, Roles and Evidence

Turn priorities into specific actions with owners, resources, baseline measures, indicators and review dates. Balance ambition with feasibility.

Module 14

Presenting and Stress-Testing the Roadmap

Pitch the plan from learner, teacher, leadership and family perspectives; identify resistance, unintended effects and opportunities for early success.

Module 15 · Applied workshop

Ninety-Day Sustainability Roadmap Studio

Set priorities, responsibilities, resources, indicators and review dates for a whole-school action that connects curriculum, operations and communication.

Practical outcome: Measurable 90-day sustainability roadmap

The sequence and examples may be fine-tuned after the pre-course needs analysis. The published learning outcomes and 30 teaching hours remain unchanged.

Teaching and learning methods

The course uses active professional learning. Short conceptual inputs are followed by investigation, creation, testing, feedback and reflection connected to each participant’s own educational context.

Climate-concept workshopSchool-system auditSystems mappingInquiry designStakeholder simulationAction-plan studio

Your course product

A whole-school sustainability roadmap with baseline scan, curriculum-linked learner challenge, participation plan, responsibilities and measurable indicators.

European relevance

The course translates European priorities and competence frameworks into practical educational and institutional action.

Erasmus+ priorities

Environment and fight against climate changeTurning sustainability learning into measurable curriculum, operational and community action.
Participation in democratic lifeGiving learners meaningful roles in investigation, decision-making, communication and collective climate action.
Inclusion and diversityEnsuring that climate learning reflects unequal impacts, varied perspectives and accessible routes to participation.
Digital transformationUsing data and digital tools critically to investigate environmental patterns, monitor progress and communicate results.

EU competence frameworks and reference instruments

GreenCompDeveloping values, systems thinking, futures literacy and individual and collective action for sustainability.
Council Recommendation on learning for the green transition and sustainable developmentPromoting whole-institution approaches and sustainability competence across education and training.
European Green DealProviding the wider European policy context for climate neutrality, circularity, biodiversity and a just transition.
Education for Climate CoalitionSupporting cooperation and exchange among education communities working on climate and sustainability.
Key Competences for Lifelong LearningConnecting sustainability work with science, citizenship, digital competence, entrepreneurship and learning to learn.

Assessment, validation and follow-up

Learning is evidenced through active participation, daily practical outcomes, peer and trainer feedback, the final course product and an individual transfer commitment. Participants receive a Certificate of Attendance. Learning Agreement and Europass Mobility support is available when required.

Climate Action and Whole-School Sustainability