Renfrew High School

As a student at Renfrew High, I have noticed a clear interest from other pupils to make better choices for a more sustainable future. As we change to being more eco-friendly, we need to get used to these new habits to make our future better. Our school has begun to educate younger pupils more about this subject by adding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the curriculum.

The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to work hard to end poverty, protect the planet and to make sure that all people enjoy peace and equality by 2030.

These SDG lessons have become available to the younger years of the school (S1s and 2s) and they have been discussing a wide range of things including what we can do in the school to improve the future and the present. They have been learning about poverty, climate action, gender equality and sustainable infrastructures. Pupils have been able to find out what the carbon impacts are from the foods that they love so much, and how they can make better greener choices.

My fellow members of the eco club and I have been focused on making sure that recycling happens across the school, and we are currently working on reducing the use of single-use plastics, by designing and introducing reusable water bottles. Also, teachers and staff have been trying to incorporate more outdoor learning into their curriculum.

As a pupil, I feel that it is mine and my peers’ responsibility to make a real change in our community and school if we want a cleaner, more sustainable future. By joining our eco club, it has helped us feel like we have more control over the changes that can be made in the school to make a real difference.

Our message of hope for COP26 is: “We hope the current world leaders look beyond egos and listen and take heed of 'us', the future leaders.”

Nina McClure, aged 14