Why Schools?

Schools are key to keeping average temperatures below the 1.5 degrees Celsius climate benchmark. (article by Andra Yeghoian)

Schools have a significant carbon footprint

• More restrictive laws don't apply to schools, so they may end up polluting more than other businesses (ie. Stormwater Pollution Prevention, SB1383 only kicked in this year for schools, etc)
•  average waste produced for nat'l and/or California schools and environmental/health impact
  • food waste
  • plastic waste
  • environmental impact 
  • health impact on students from plastics in lunch program
• average energy use for nat'l and/or California schools
• Traffic congestion and car idling at school drop/off and pick up (air pollution directly around schools

Schools have enormous potential.  Description of how much land and how many students across US and in Marin (see Climate Action Plans for Schools by Aspen Institute).

• lots of funding geared towards improving energy efficiency and green energy production (IRA etc)
• Interest from students, parents, teachers, and principals in making their campuses and the planet healthier.
  
• Opportunities to educate the future generation and prepare them for green careers