In the fall of 2021 DoorNumberOne.org launched the Climate Action Accelerator Program as a pilot project to catalyze climate action in and through elementary and secondary schools. Since then we have worked with over 20 schools in 5 provinces, helping them create climate action plans and amplify their various sustainability efforts towards a just, beautiful and regenerated world.  

Through workshops and mentoring we build capacity in school teams, including students, teachers, operations and facilities, administrators, parents and others, to empower them with the mindset, knowledge and skills to drive change in their communities.

Our intention was always to learn through this pilot, and then explore how we can bring this learning to more schools across the country. Our experience so far is with independent schools – and while there will be many similarities, we recognize that public schools and public school districts have their own unique set of challenges. 

A research study published in early 2020 by Cordero et al estimated that if young people – in this case first year university students – understood their own ability to make choices in their every day lives to reduce their carbon emissions, education as a solution to the climate crisis has the potential to be as signifcant as scaling up rooftop solar panels or afforestation projects. Imagine the potential if this kind of learning was embedded as a life skill from an even younger age. 

We also know the power of young people to bring learning home. A study published in 2019 by Lawson et al demonstrated the power and impact of our youth to bring important learning home to their families.