According to The Economost it is estimated¹ that by 2030, the world population of 7 billion will demand twice as many resources as the planet can supply. This problem of how to meet the needs of the growing population requires understanding and creative problem solving. Environmental education equips² learners with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to address complex environmental challenges in the 21st Century.

Although environmental education has not become a school subject in every school yet, The Green School is a project which teaches students not only theoretical but also practical skills to behave and think in an ecological manner. It is intended³ for kindergartens, elementary schools, secondary schools, and special schools.
The project consists of seven steps which are implemented⁴. First, a Green School College is created where pupils and teachers meet to discuss the project. Then, using the Environmental Audit, the school’s environmentally friendly activities are checked. Afterwards, the ideas are gathered⁵ to improve the situation by composing an Environmental Action Plan. It covers seven topics: water, waste, energy, food, transport and air, green administration and greenery, and nature conservation. The objectives can be as follows: reduction of water and energy consumption, reduction of food waste and total waste, reduction of noise and dustiness at school, reduction of automobile transport, increase of recycled paper, creation of gardens and composting sites, etc. Of course, the objectives also include activities to achieve the goals: when trying to avoid water wasting, for example, this may include fixing dripping taps⁶ or using rainwater for watering. To save energy, bulbs can be replaced by energy saving ones. The topic of food is related to activities such as growing vegetables and fruits in school fields. As far as transport is concerned, cars can be banned from entering the campus, organizing a day without cars, and the like. In green schools, recycled paper should be preferred. Searching for the origin and composition of food or a day without meat might be a great challenge too. The implementation helps you find out what has been achieved and what needs to be improved. The next steps are Pro-environmental lessons, informing and involving the community, and drafting⁷ the Eco-Code.
This project also brings friendly relationships between teachers and pupils: positive change of thoughts, enthusiasm, optimism, and meaningful spare time activities. There is always a link between theory and practice. What pupils learn in theory at the lessons can also be practiced in a variety of activities e.g. the pupil learns how to grow vegetables, and then he can get them from the school fields. It brings with it some management thinking. It is necessary to set and plan the goal, then to fulfill this goal and to control its fulfillment. Family and friends are also informed about this project so it requires some form of marketing and presentation. Finally, all the effort is being displayed in an artistic way and is a part of the values of the school – the Eco-Code.
Ecology is, of course, the study of the relationships between organisms and the surrounding world. We are all part of one ecosystem, nothing is separate. This system has not been created by man, but he often acts as the owner. That is why we should realize that we are destroying ourselves by destroying nature. As the oceans, the air, the land, and energy sources have no borders, by destroying our own surroundings, we are destroying the whole world.

ACTIVITY:
Here is a list of activities that can be done in your school in order to make it more eco-friendly. Discuss the degree of importance by choosing the numbers 1-5 (1-most important, 5-least important) and compare your ideas with your classmate. Support your ideas with two or three arguments.

Lýdia Zelenayová

Vocabulary: 1 odhadovať – odhadovat; 2 vybaviť, vystrojiť – vybavit, vystrojit; 3 určený; 4 realizovaný – realizován; 5 zhromaždený – shromažděný, 6 kvapkajúce vodovodné kohútiky – kapajíci vodovodní kohoutky, 7 návrh