NetZero Student Program
Edmund Rice Centre, Amberley, Wurundjeri Country
At the end of July, students and staff from Brigidine College, Indooroopilly (Yuggera and Turrbal Country), Kilbreda College (Boon Wurrung), Star of the Sea College (Boon Wurrung), St Joseph’s College (Yorta Yorta), Killester College (Boon Wurrung) and Clonard College (Wathaurong) came together on Wurundjeri land at Amberley, to learn about and focus their passion for working towards Net Zero. We were joined by Wurundjeri Elder Perry Wandin, who welcomed us to Country and encouraged us to understand our stories of connection to the earth.
The importance of connection was reiterated by Clonard College graduate Lauren Dillon. As a Year 12 student in 2022, Lauren called for all the Kildare Ministries schools to come together and work collaboratively towards achieving Net Zero emissions through our daily life choices. Over time, students and staff of our schools have taken various decisions and actions towards Net Zero, and we have made some wonderful progress. However, there are increasing reports across our communities of overwhelm and indecision, eco anxiety and hopelessness - especially since last year when we breached the 1.5 degree global temperature increase above pre-industrial temperatures for the first time (United Nations Climate Action website).
Given this, Lauren encouraged us to examine how and why we lose motivation for climate action, even when we care deeply about it. She helped us remember that “humans really need each other! Researchers found that being part of a group improves mental health, increases resilience and builds motivation.” Lauren challenged each of our group to identify what strength we bring to this Net Zero collaboration, and to identify how we will stay connected to our purpose when we next feel ourselves losing momentum.
Alice Carwardine from the Edmund Rice Formation Team led us through a simulation to help us put ourselves in the shoes of those most vulnerable in our world, to understand why they will be the hardest hit by Climate Change. Alice also helped us understand the science of Climate Change. Learning about Project Drawdown’s evidence based Top Solutions to reducing rising temperatures was really powerful, as we started to understand there are very concrete actions that all of us can do now to make the most positive impact.
Table of Solutions (for more information visit drawdown.org/solutions)
We also tried to understand the intricate connectedness of all parts of our Earth community. Sianah from Brigidine College said, “I really liked the session called The Council of All Beings, where we learnt how humans have such an impact on every animal, every plant, every species, even the soil! We made a mask to wear, and took on the role that being, explored their perspective, and shared with the Council what their contribution to Earth’s ecosystem is, and what they’re struggling with in the face of Climate Change.”
On the final morning, students and staff met to assess their school’s current Net Zero activities and prioritise their next actions. Students and staff will stay accountable to each other through meeting online each Term for the coming 12 months to report in on their progress and support each other through challenges, starting with our first meeting in September.
Actions students took back to their schools included:
I learnt a lot about what we can do to slow down Climate change, every little thing we do helps. We’re going to keep up our motivation strong by thinking of the future generations, they will appreciate all of the work we’re doing for them now. (Serena, St Joseph’s College)
We’re going to start vlogging about the actions we can do and broadcast that to the whole school… we’ve got 40 or 50 people from Year 7-12 in our Environment Club, and also a junior school environmental club. (Sianah, Brigidine College)
I got a lot out of this program, not only did I meet other people who are into sustainability, but I also learnt a lot about the climate and how there are so many solutions with which we can respond to the Climate Crisis.
We want to create a vegetable garden and indigenous plants garden, inform other students on how we can reduce food waste, how to garden so we can grow our own food and reduce buying food from major grocery stores. (Hyojoo, Killester College)
I really want to help our school turn towards ecological justice and help fight for the planet, because it’s the only one we have and we really need to protect it.
We’ve got two campuses, one of them is entirely run on solar power, so we’re going to work towards converting the other campus to solar power as well! (Meaghan, St Joseph’s College)
Jane Collopy
Mission Leader