Marking a Milestone for Schools’ Sustainability Journey: Hong Kong Green School Quality Standard
To accommodate schools at various stages of their sustainability journey, the Hong Kong Green School Quality Standard (HKGSQS) offers a structured, three-tiered approach. This flexibility ensures that every school has a clear pathway to meaningful climate action.
At the foundational tier, becoming a Hong Kong GEP Programme Member School demonstrates a school’s initial commitment to promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and working towards carbon neutrality. As schools advance, they can earn the Net Zero Participant School designation by formally committing to the carbon neutrality journey and meeting at least half of the foundational criteria across all four key dimensions. At the pinnacle of the framework is the Net Zero Demonstration School level, where the elite recognition is reserved for pioneering schools that meet the highest performance standards and actively serve as exemplars by sharing their sustainable experiences with others.
Tailored Pathways for Every School
There are three levels of participation for schools to join depending on their progress towards the certification:
1. The “Commitment” Level:
Schools which just start their sustainability journey can initially join this tier to perform a pre-assessment against the Standard. Upon completion, schools will get a Towards Net Zero School Assessment Certificate equipped with actionable expert recommendations to guide their next steps.
2. The “Progression” Level:
If schools have already performed a carbon audit and have their reports ready, they can enter at this level to get certified against the Standard directly. Should they need extra support to fulfil the criteria stated in the Standard, customized training, guidance, consultation, and complementary resources will be quoted separately upon request. Based on their assessment, schools are certified as a Net Zero Participation School, or a Net Zero Demonstration School if they achieve exemplary performance.
3. The “Advanced” Level: Comprehensive Support under the Net Zero School Project
Schools can join the Net Zero School Project if they would like to gain full access to workshops, trainings, guidance, and consultation, as well as carbon audits and complementary resources, in order to get certified as a Net Zero Demonstration School under the Standard.
The holistic Net Zero School Project
The holistic package under the Net Zero School Project covers three key areas:
- Workshops and Trainings: Interactive Sustainability and ESG Strategy workshops designed for teachers and school management, alongside specialized workshops focusing on ESG, carbon accounting, and adopting a low-carbon lifestyle for teachers and students.
- Carbon Accounting: Carbon audit for the school that includes third-party verification. Teachers and students are directly involved in the process, empowering both to manage their data and understand their emissions firsthand. Guidance sessions are provided throughout the carbon auditing phase.
- Certification to the Standard: The activities under the Project directly contribute to the fulfilment of criteria in the Standard, charting a direct course to get certified as a Net Zero Demonstration School.
Attaining Certification and Global Recognition
UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UNESCO HKA) is recognized as a member of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) led by UNESCO, operating the GEP-recognized certification program for HKGSQS. Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HIESD) is the Secretariat to UNESCO HKA who provides technical advice throughout the Net Zero School Project and the HKGSQS.
Professionals will be accompanying the participating schools to prepare pre- and assessments against the Standard. Depending on schools’ levels of participation, HIESD will help compile submission for the certification and complete the carbon audit with external verification under the “Advanced” level of participation.
Evidence is reviewed by the Expert Panel as part of the assessment process. Schools certified as Net Zero Demonstration Schools will then be included in UNESCO’s global network and the GEP index.
Join to Set Schools’ Milestone
Now is the time for schools to demonstrate their progress in achieving sustainability. Join us to showcase your schools’ green efforts!
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