Climate action plans
A clear and practical climate action plan empowers you to turn ambitions into a reality.
Cornerstones of their communities and a focal point of students’ lives – education providers are in a uniquely visible position when it comes to climate action.
The Department for Education (DfE) expects all education settings in England – including non-domestic early years settings, schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges and universities – to have a climate action plan.
Beyond compliance, a clear and practical action plan empowers your organisation to turn climate ambitions into a reality – empowering your staff, students and wider community to be a part of positive change in turn.
What is a climate action plan?
The sustainability and climate change strategy for education states: “By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan.”
This is a detailed plan to allow your education setting or trust to progress or commence sustainability initiatives. You may choose to have a climate action plan that sits within an individual setting, across a trust, or both.
Besides a climate action plan, the DfE’s Estate Management Standards also require a sustainability lead to be nominated.
Sustainability leads often develop and drive the education setting’s sustainability vision and action plan.
While the format may vary, all climate action plans should include these four key pillars:
- Adaptation and resilience: How the education setting is preparing for and responding to climate change impacts.
- Biodiversity and nature: Efforts to protect and enhance nature and wildlife within the education setting and its surroundings.
- Climate education and green skills: How learners are supported to understand climate change and sustainability and develop relevant skills.
- Decarbonisation and net zero: Actions to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – working towards net zero.
There is no expectation to store a climate action plan in a specific way. However, you may choose to publish the plan on your website for transparency and accountability.
How can Inspired help you?
Inspired’s ESG experts can help you create and refine a powerful climate action plan in collaboration with your sustainability lead and help you report against your progress.
Whether you need assistance with specific elements, such as mapping out your carbon footprint, or more comprehensive support, our deliverables are aligned to support you across all four pillars of your climate action plan.
Key deliverables
Climate-scenario analysis
We analyse physical climate-related risks and opportunities across your operations, such as flooding.
(Supports the Adaptation and resilience-pillar.)
Biodiversity analysis
either desktop or in person.
(Supports the Biodiversity and nature-pillar.)
Climate and sustainability information sessions
We can educate your staff and pupils about climate and sustainability matter, either virtually or in person.
(Supports the Climate education and green skills-pillar.)
Scopes 1,2 and 3 reporting
We can work with stakeholders to identify and quantify all applicable Scope 3 emissions.
(Supports the Decarbonisation and net zero-pillar.)
Net zero strategy
Develop targets supported by a robust, data-driven strategy, with short, medium, and long-term actions.
(Supports the Decarbonisation and net zero-pillar.)
Talk to an expert
Phillip Parrott
ESG Manager
“Education providers must navigate budgetary constraints and resource limitations amidst a continuously evolving compliance landscape, all the while prioritising your pupils.
“Understandably, your organisation may lack the required resources and expertise for data collection, action plan development, and effective reporting.
“This is where we come in. Inspired’s ESG experts can help you create and refine a powerful climate action plan in collaboration with your sustainability lead.”
Inspired’s approach to ESG disclosures
With our comprehensive ESG disclosure service, Inspired can support you in meeting your unique reporting requirements.
The aim is to make your disclosure process as simple and streamlined as possible by integrating ESG into existing operations. Our robust and hands-on data collection process ensures we provide accurate, extensive, consistent and auditable disclosures.
As ESG reporting is a diverse space, we follow best international practices to ensure consistency and transparency throughout all our deliverables.
Quick links
At Inspired, we help organisations to navigate ESG and comprehend its associated benefits. But our support doesn’t end there.
Get in touch
Inspired can help you create and refine a powerful climate action plan in collaboration with your sustainability lead.
If you would like to discuss how we could best support you, please contact us.