A grassroots learning partnership
between school boards and colleges.
Climate Change LeadersTM (CCL) is a grassroots learning partnership between Mohawk College and ten participating local school boards, including 290,000 students in approximately 690 schools. It encourages young people to reduce carbon emissions in their schools by 18 to 20 per cent by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement on Climate Change targets on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario will contribute research and validation in sustainability and other technologies that contribute to improving learning outcomes, micro-credits in Climate Change and related topics for students, teachers and staff. See school board partners for CCL in Our Partners section.
On February 11, 2020 Mohawk and the following school districts signed an MoU with the following principles:
1. Learning – building capacity and capability in clean technology and a low carbon community with new co-ops, specialized high skills majors, dual credits, research and engagement
2. Carbon reduction – reducing carbon in our buildings and communities linking technology transformation with an education plan to facilitate an exceptional student experience
3. Capital investment – being fiscally responsible stewards: develop demonstration projects using energy saved and energy made
Climate Change Leaders Partnership Launch
at Mohawk College, February 11, 2020
Our Education Plan brings inclusive opportunities to students to meet the needs of a growing green economy. With our team of experts in the education field, we provide a learning framework design that supports:
- New student curriculum;
- Experiential learning associated with STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math);
- Dual-credit academic opportunities;
- SHSM (Specialist High Skills Majors) programs; and
- Student co-op possibilities
Our education partners work with a school board’s educational team representative to design and deliver the best possible program.
TCI understands that embarking on new ways of doing things can sometimes be a challenge for the school community. Our proven engagement framework reaches out to all learning-community participants: students, teachers, principals, staff, parents and the Board – to determine the issues that are important to them.
We view the engagement process as a continuous conversation designed to measure progress: how successful a program is, and how it is received by all stakeholders. Engagement allows us to align, refine and design adjustments to the strategic direction of the program to maximize inclusiveness and outreach, thereby ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal.
TCI has over 20 years of combined communications experience in the K-12 and postsecondary education sectors.
We create customized communications plans designed to:
- Enhance the understanding of a program,
- Keep stakeholders up-to-date and share success stories.
Our work includes a wide range of initiatives:
- News releases
- Web content
- E-newsletters
- Social media
- E-mail campaigns
- Surveys
We also have expertise in planning and hosting events highlighting program success stories.
The Facilities Plan is a methodical approach to achieving carbon-neutrality – achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, ideally by transitioning to a post-carbon economy that does not require them at all.
To reach carbon-neutrality, the Facilities Plan focuses on:
- Extensive building-system retrofits to reduce energy use and carbon waste associated with current building systems, including heating, ventilation and lighting; and
- Developing renewable-energy micro-grids – technologies associated with solar, geothermal and renewable-energy storage batteries.
The CCL Investment Plan takes an integrated approach to obtain project investment capital. A significant component of project funding comes from energy saved through building retrofits over time, and energy generated through renewable-energy micro-grids.
Other sources of funding the Board can access include:
- Annual capital grants;
- Utility-company grants; and
- Other special grants that will all be rolled into a fund to invest in the goal of carbon-neutrality.
CCL seeks partnerships through tenders to determine the best value for the money for the Board and all stakeholders, and is the intermediary that integrates the renewable-energy service provider into the program. Our team of experts in finance and renewable energy will work closely with you to determine the best financial model to meet your needs.
™Climate Change Leaders is a registered trademark and property of Thomas Cole Inc.
