What is Environment?
The environment focus area encompasses activities where children and young people are working with the natural environment and also climate action activities. The growing environmental crisis experienced by the world today is understood as one of the most pressing global challenges for younger generations. According to UNICEF, the disruption of infrastructure – schools, transport, hospitals, water systems – by droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events have detrimental impacts on the physical and mental well-being of young people. Over half a billion children globally already live in high flood occurrence zones with 160 million living in ‘high’ or ‘extremely high’ drought severity zones (1). Slow-onset impacts of climate change including loss of biodiversity, desertification, rising sea levels have the potential to limit social mobility and livelihood options (1). In the context of England, rising temperatures, food insecurity, malnutrition, and air pollution are all increasingly relevant concerns for the development and well-being of young people (2).
Why is it important to Ormiston Trust?
Climate action and environmental protection are of the utmost priority for Ormiston Trust. Ormiston Trust believes that while young people may be the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, young people have the capacity to play an active role in fostering stronger and more sustainable communities. By investing in context-specific and community-centred environmental actions that include the collaboration of schools, families, and businesses, a stronger connection to the natural environment can be built which will lead to better health and life outcomes for children and young people.
Grant programme examples: Social eco-action, virtual eco collaboration networks, gardening clubs, community allotments and clean energy programmes.
Desired Outcomes
References
(1) UNICEF,2015. ” Unless we act now: The impact of climate change on children”. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/reports/unless-we-act-now-impact-climate-change-children
(2) Environment Agency, 2020. “State of the Environment”. Gov. UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment
