In 2023 Auckland Council’s Sustainable Schools team piloted a project called Mana Ora: Students Decarbonising Schools. This project aimed to empower students, with support, to plan and implement action projects linked to decarbonisation within their schools. Five theme areas provided project inspiration: Grow, Food, Waste, Energy, Transport
Evaluation carried out by the New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) found that Mana Ora largely succeeded in achieving its intended outcomes for students, teachers, and advisors.
Click on the link above to download and read the full report. Some key findings include:
- Many students said it was “empowering” to see ways they could take action on climate change and sustainability issues through making a change in their own school.
- Many students were able to explain new understandings they had developed about climate change and/or decarbonisation.
- Many lead teachers said Mana Ora had contributed to their confidence and knowledge to teach about and inspire climate action learning.
- Advisors said that Mana Ora had helped build their own knowledge and confidence about how to “connect the dots” between school sustainability practices and decarbonisation.
