{"id":11184,"date":"2026-06-24T21:48:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/?p=11184"},"modified":"2026-06-24T22:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T14:33:00","slug":"introducing-the-net-zero-school-project-and-the-hong-kong-green-school-quality-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/2026\/06\/24\/introducing-the-net-zero-school-project-and-the-hong-kong-green-school-quality-standard\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Climate Action: Introducing the Net Zero School Project and the Hong Kong Green School Quality Standard"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

As climate change continues to pose an unprecedented threat, schools become essential hubs for building resilience and actions. Empowering both educators and students to understand and address environmental issues leaves a profound impact for building a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a core pillar of Quality Education as one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). As an advocate to ESD, the UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UNESCO HKA) has launched a transformative program to elevate sustainable learning environments among Hong Kong schools.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Net Zero School Project \u2013 Combining Carbon Accounting With Teaching and Learning Development<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Carbon Neutrality as a Focus Agenda, Teaching and Learning as a Focus Approach<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

While many green certifications prioritize building infrastructure and facility operations, the Net Zero School Project takes a deeper look at green schools from educational perspectives. UNESCO has published the global Green School Quality Standard, providing a set of criteria for green schools committed to a whole institution approach to ESD. By integrating climate awareness directly into the curriculum, sustainability becomes a core component of the student experience rather than just an extracurricular addition. To make this global framework highly relevant to the local context, UNESCO HKA localized the standard and published the Hong Kong Green School Quality Standard. Schools can join the Net Zero School Project to get certified to the Standard.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Demonstrating Leadership in Environmental Stewardship through Carbon Accounting<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

To echo the climate targets of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050 set by the government, the Net Zero School Project drives data-driven sustainability by helping schools with carbon audits and reporting. Emission performance communicates schools\u2019 impact to the environment and climate change. By tracking, schools can demonstrate its leadership in environmental stewardship through teaching and practicing, as well as allow school management, teachers and students to identify improvements in operational efficiency. Under the programme, participating schools are required to present the carbon audit report as part of fulfilment of the criteria under the Standard.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

From Local Actions to Global Agenda \u2013 Become a \u201cNet Zero Demonstration School\u201d to be Listed on the Global Dashboard<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Meeting the 2030 Global Target<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The foundation of a climate-ready society begins in our classrooms. UNESCO has established an ambitious worldwide goal to see at least 50% of schools in every country greened by the year 2030. UNESCO HKA, therefore, initiated the Net Zero School Project, to actively encourage schools driving these international sustainability milestones forward.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Global Recognition and the GEP Index<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

UNESCO HKA is recognized as members of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) led by UNESCO, operating the GEP-recognized certification program for the Hong Kong Green School Quality Standard. Achieving the certification earns more than just local prestige. Hong Kong schools that are certified as Net Zero Demonstration Schools will be included in UNESCO\u2019s global network and index of the GEP.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Join the Greening Education Movement<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Net Zero School Project offers flexibilities in levels of school participation to fit your progress towards the certification. Take the first step to a sustainable future \u2013 talk with us, enrol your school today and empower your teachers and students for global climate action!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProgramme Details and Registration<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As climate change continues to pose an unprecedented threat, schools become essential hubs for building resilience and actions. Empowering both educators and students to understand and address environmental issues leaves a profound impact for building a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a core pillar of Quality Education as one of the United […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[103,4],"tags":[104,97,84],"class_list":["post-11184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-net-zero-school","category-news","tag-hkgsqs","tag-net-zero-school","tag-netzeroschool"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11184"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11201,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11184\/revisions\/11201"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unesco.hk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}