Common Description

Eco-Schools is an international programme for environmental education and management, which aims to raise students’ awareness of sustainable development issues through classroom study as well as school and community action.

With the emphasis placed on a democratic and participatory approach, the programme encourages children and youth to take an active role in how their school can be run for the benefit of the environment, highlighting the importance of civic values.

The Eco-Schools programme is based on the ISO14001:2004 that specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects. The ISO14001:2004 applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence.

The Eco-Schools Methodology encompasses Seven Steps that any school can adopt. The process involves a wide range of stakeholders, but pupils play the central role.

After a period of participation, an evaluation of the success of these initiatives and the methodology is undertaken, and the whole Eco-Schools programme for each school is assessed.

Successful Eco-Schools are awarded the Green Flag, an internationally acknowledged symbol for environmental excellence. In some countries, this recognition happens through a three level system, were schools are awarded either bronze and silver prizes before getting the green flag, or one and two star prizes.

Whereas there is flexibility as to the ceremony and awarding process, the criteria for assessing schools for the award is faithful to the guidelines of the International Programme.