"In order for independent schools to thrive in the 21st Century, NAIS believes that they must be sustainable along five dimensions: financial, demographic, programmatic, environmental, and global.
NAIS is pleased to work with the Green Schools Alliance (GSA) to help schools become greener. We encourage all independent schools to support the goals of the GSA and to make a commitment to greater environmental sustainability, such as the GSA pledge."
Patrick F. Bassett
President,
National Association
of
Independent Schools
These resources correspond to each item of the Pledge.
Pledge
Help
1. Commit my school to reduce its carbon footprint at one of the following Levels of Commitment:
Climate Champion: Reduce my school’s carbon footprint by at least 30% within 5 years, and achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2020.
Climate Steward: Calculate my school’s carbon footprint by establishing an energy and carbon emissions baseline. Achieve carbon reductions over time.
2. Create a school sustainability task force to guide the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Action Plan to reduce our school’s carbon emissions according to our level of commitment: [Suggested timeline: Within two months]
3. Establish a carbon emissions baseline by conducting a benchmark and energy audit for the last calendar year, and report our progress on an annual basis. [Suggested timeline: Within one year]
4. Initiate two or more tangible actions to begin reducing carbon emissions and to demonstrate strong commitment to our school community. [Suggested timeline: within one year]
5. Complete a Comprehensive Action Plan to reduce our school’s carbon emissions according to our Level of Commitment including: [Suggested timeline: Within two years]
Interim targets for actions that will lead to carbon reduction according to my commitment
6. Educate the school community and key stakeholders about the importance of climate change, energy conservation and sustainability, and integrate activities and lessons into existing curriculum. [Suggested timeline: Ongoing]
7. Monitor and report progress toward meeting my school’s Climate Commitment on an on-going annual basis to the GSA database. [Suggested timeline: Ongoing]
