First Climate Action Campus in New Zealand helps students take action

Climate Change has become a significant concern worldwide, especially for young people. In Ōtautahi Christchurch, more than 8,000 students can now channel their concerns into action by running their projects through a collaborative Climate Action Campus.  

With Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery as the lead school, primary and secondary students from a dozen local schools can get involved in projects to help bring about positive environmental change. The number of schools has grown from last year and is still climbing. 

"We understand that students have a lot of what we call climate angst and concern about the future, and we know that action is urgent," says Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi Director Niki Stephenson. "We created this campus so that they can begin to take action.

"Kids will come with their passions and interests, and we will help them develop projects around them, so this campus has that ethos but with a lens on climate action.

"Everyone from students, teachers, community volunteers, and city and government agencies are engaged, so the campus benefits from getting together as a 'collective brain' on the enormous challenges Climate Change presents.

"Climate change is going to present many challenges, key amongst them is clean drinking water, food security, and energy security - so we are keen for students to tackle those with our support.

"We’re hoping to be a very practical national and global example of how educators collaborating can support students to take action for their futures,” Niki adds. “And we keep finding all sorts of groups and individuals who want to be involved, which is fantastic.”

The site is large and includes the former Avonside Girls’ High School, which is located right on the river. Another 4.5 acres of Red Zone land adjacent to the school is also leased from the Christchurch City Council.

The campus challenges students to start making climate action part of their everyday life, whether on campus or not. Students are taking on projects such as planting in the red zone, growing their own kai, harvesting and cooking it, checking the water in the nearby Ōtākaro/ Avon River, and looking at energy sources.

“The joy of working with young people is that their ideas are amazing, and we are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible,” Niki says.

The Climate Action Campus is supported by Rātā Foundation funding, helping students source project resources like greenhouses, irrigation equipment, beekeeping equipment, plants, and solar energy, which gets installed in July. The panels will help power the school and the Te Aratai Technology Centre, which shares the site.

“The big idea is that we would like to become a community energy hub so that when communities lose energy, there are places they can go to ensure they can charge their phones and cook a meal,” Niki says. “Ultimately the even bigger concept is a solar farm.

“We need something like 70% more renewable energy in New Zealand over the next 20 years. That’s enormous, and schools are great places for it.”

Rātā Foundation Chief Executive, Leighton Evans, says the programme's strength is educating young people about Climate Change and its impact while empowering them to implement change.

“Educating young people about the importance of sustainability, with hands-on, practical examples, gives them the confidence and agency to do their bit to combat the climate crisis,” says Leighton. 

“Undoubtedly, the campus is a unique initiative with hopes it will inspire others. We are looking forward to seeing the project ideas it generates and the results.”