Around 50 students across all grades at Bavarian International School (BIS) are committed to climate protection and sustainability
"I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. […] I want you to act as if your house is on fire. Because it is burning." This is one of the most striking quotes from 17-year-old climate protection activist Greta Thunberg from Sweden. Bavarian International School (BIS) has been following the appeal to act, to get involved and to put the environment at the top of the agenda for many years. Since 2018, at both campuses in Munich-Schwabing and in Haimhausen, all activities have been bundled under the Eco-Schools project. Environmental protection and sustainability have long been an important part of the IB World School curriculum. Last year, BIS received the two-star award as European Environmental School from the Bavarian Ministry of Education.
The number of committed students is constantly increasing, with around 50 young people now working in the "Green Team" (Secondary School), as "Eco-Agents" (Primary School on Haimhausen Campus) or in the "Eco-Club" (Primary School on City Campus). "Certainly there is a Greta effect, which has continued to grow as a result of Friday's for Future and the increased self-confidence of the students to be able to take a leading role," says Emma Morris. The British teacher not only heads the Eco-Schools project, but also links the topics to the challenging International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, the social-responsibility program CAS ("Creativity, Activity, Service") and After School Activities (ASA). In addition to the interdisciplinary approach, the entire team is committed to manifesting the issues of environmental protection and sustainability within the entire school community – teachers, staff, parents and local associations are equally addressed and activated.
On the way to a plastic-free school
Among the major goals of the young climate protection activists are a plastic-free and paperless school, achieving CO2 neutrality, avoiding waste and, last but not least, a stronger awareness of health and nutrition. A large number of individual operational projects have been launched under this strategic umbrella, including campaigns to eliminate plastic bottles, increase biodiversity with insect hotels, school gardens and permaculture, cooperation with local and international environmental initiatives, reducing energy consumption and raising awareness of healthier, plant-based nutrition in collaboration with the new BIS partner STROMBERG. As a dream team, the Green Team also appeals to each individual to assume greater personal responsibility, for example by choosing regional products or raising awareness of sustainable mobility (e.g. "Walk to School Day").
"Protect the environment for future generations"
The students, who are coordinated internally by a ten-member senior team headed by Zara Ilijas (17 years, Croatia) and Konstantin von der Schulenburg (18 years, Germany), communicate via the website and Instagram, present their results at school assemblies, project days and the BeInSpired Sustainability Summit on October 9, 2020. They have developed their own logo and invented the Eco-Code, which is based on the acronym BIS: "Be aware of how to use your resources, Inspire Sustainability, Save the Planet as a Community. Students like Konstantin von Schulenburg are committed to the Green Team "to make our world a better place and protect the environment for future generations. Climate change must be prevented and its effects limited, adds Zara Ilijas. And Fabienne Kramer puts it clearly: "The planet's future is in our hands, to act now is our responsibility!"