"The best chance we have": the Paris Agreement on climate change
US President Barack Obama described the deal reached last Saturday by the 195 nations represented at the talks as "the best chance we have to save ...
A range of factsheets and resources which gives lots of ideas on how you can help!
'Climate Strike' is Word of the Year
Talking of single use, Dutch brewing company Heineken has today announced that it will be replacing single use plastic can toppers used on its mult...
'Code Red' for humanity
The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published today has made it absolutely clear that human activities are ca...
2019 confirmed as second hottest year on record
Whilst data from instruments only stretches back to 1850, data from ice cores taken from Greenland and Antarctica show that the world has not been ...
A book that could make a difference
But there are now a growing number of economists and commentators who are starting to think that prosperity and growth are not infinitely linked. ...
Action needed to prevent climate catastrophe
In the Paris agreement of 2015, the world’s governments pledged to keep temperatures between 1.5C and 2C above pre-Industrial levels, so this new s...
Activities on Environment and Wildlife
We get many emails from young people asking us what they can do to play a greater part in the conservation movement, and so we have compiled this l...
Air pollution 'very high' in parts of England
Three of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA's) pollution monitoring devices in London showed a maximum '10' reading f...
Andy Stanton becomes YPTE President
We are delighted to announce that Andy Stanton, whose hilarious and much-loved 'Mr Gum' books have sold more than 1.25 million copies in the UK alo...
Ash reaches first key milestone on Yangtze trek
After setting off in late August, Ash has completed the first 550 miles and has arrived at his first city - Yushu, situated in Qin...
Bags for life increase plastic waste and other stories
However, some of the additional weight of plastic also comes from 'food to go', like the sandwiches, cakes, crisps and fruit bought at lunch times....
Ban proposed on single use plastics
Cotton buds are becoming an increasing hazard in our oceans, as they are often flushed down the loo after use and end up being washed out to sea. ...
Bees
With around 250 species of bee living here in the UK, these key pollinators make a huge impact on our lives - even if we don't always realise it! ...
Bees: New lesson plans and presentation now available!
This brand new suite of 6 lesson plans is aimed at Key Stage 2, but is readily adaptable for Key Stages 1 and 3. Along with a PowerPoint presentati...
Better Energy School Awards Winners 2017
Full list of the winners of the Better Energy School Awards, for download as a pdf document.
Big increase in Europe's renewable energy
This compared well with 2013, when 15% of the continent's energy came from renewable sources. Energy from renewable sources is quite unevenly spre...
Britain's Rare Flowers
Explore the UK's rare flowers, each section gives ideas about what you can do to help to protect them.
British adventurer embarks on trekking the length of the Yangtze
Two-time world first record holder, British adventurer and extreme athlete, 27 year old Ash Dykes from Old Colwyn in North Wales, has reached the Y...
COP25 climate change talks open in Madrid
Ahead of the meeting, UN Secretary General António Guterres said, "In the crucial 12 months ahead, it is essential that we secure more ambitious na...
COP26 underway in Glasgow
World leaders, who have gathered in Glasgow for the conference have already heard impassioned speeches from United Nations Secretary General Antoni...
Cel Spellman becomes YPTE President
Actor and presenter Cel Spellman is really enthusiastic about how young people can help to change the world, so it's brilliant to have his support!...
Celebration of green cuisine in Paris
Yesterday, the winners of Eurostar's 'Create a Sustainable Business Dish' competition were presented with their awards at a ceremony held at the Ga...
Central banks warn on climate change risks
Their letter coincides with the launch of a report from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a group of 34 international central b...
Chinese construction industry at the heart of ozone layer mystery
CFCs like CFC-11 were used to make foams for furniture and buildings and were also used in refrigerators and aerosols, but were banned after a hole...
Climate Change Assembly
An assembly about climate change, exploring: The difference between weather and climate What climate change is and why it's happening The...
Climate Change In a Bottle: How to set up the experiment
A video explaining how to set up the climate change experiment included in YPTE's lesson plan suite about climate change. Video created and presen...
Climate Change Update Part 3
The problem is already here In recent years, we have seen Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, superstorm Sandy hit New York, New Jersey ...
Climate Change for Parents: The Facts
It's really important that you've come here, because we need lots more people to realise the scale of what we are facing and get involved in creati...
Climate Change for Parents: What you can do at home
You've got here because you're interested in how you can help cut your carbon emissions and tackle climate change. There are lots of small ways th...
Climate Change for parents
A simple leaflet for parents explaining climate change and providing links to further information.
Climate campaigners walk out of talks
It just two weeks since Typhoon Haiyan caused enormous devastation and thousands of deaths in the Philippines in the latest example of extreme weat...
Climate change update
The Bank of England has said that up to £16 trillion of assets could be wiped out if the current climate emergency is not tackled effectively by bu...
Climate emergency declared by over 11,000 scientists
It is now exactly 40 years since scientists from 50 nations met in Geneva, Switzerland, for the First World Climate Conference. They agreed then t...
Climate strikes held by students in 100 countries
Here in the UK, some 10,000 young people gathered in Parliament Square, London to demand action. Environment Secretary Michael Gove praised their ...
Climate talks end without new commitments to emissions cuts
So whilst the talks were a partial success, they were also in part a failure. With no significant movement in countries’ agreed targets for emissi...
Coal more expensive than renewables in most of USA
Renewables now account for about 17% of energy generation in the USA, but there is huge potential for renewables to replace coal and provide much c...
Coming soon: The Young People's Green Awards
The Young People's Green Awards (YPGA) will enable young people to combine their interest in caring for the natural world with their natural talent...
Composting
The rubbish we throw away everyday is polluting our Earth. A lot of this rubbish comes from our gardens and kitchens and the good news is that this...
Conservation Education 24 - Rainforests
Imagine that you’re in a thick, dark forest. It’s very hot and sticky and the sweat soaks your t-shirt. You can hear the sound of wild animals all ...
Conservation Education 29 - Climate Change Update
A fresh look at climate change, a subject we last looked at for Conservation Education in 2006. Banner photo by Al Case.
Conservation Education 30 - The Problem with Plastic
No matter where you look these days, you're likely to spot something made of plastic. It can be shaped in all kinds of ways, it can be really thin...
Could you grow your own home?
The idea of building with straw has been around for a long time, but in recent years, it has been something that only ecologically-minded Britons h...
Create a Sustainable Business Premier Dish 2018 Entry Documents
Zipped folder containing the entry brief, entry form and terms & conditions documents for participants in Eurostar's 'Create a Sustainable Busi...
Double your donation with the Green Match Fund!
For one week only (22-29 April 2021), YPTE has been awarded up to £10,000 in match funds by the Green Match Fund from The Big Give. Donations rece...
EU backs ban on single use plastics
The ban doesn't have legal force yet. Member states still have to back the directive before it can become law, but with voting so overwhelmingly i...
Electric Cars
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular. In this factsheet we explore why.
England ponders cash incentive for plastic bottle recycling
Mr Gove said., “We must protect our oceans and marine life from plastic waste if we are to be the first generation to leave our environment in a be...
England's shops start charging for carrier bags.
This new rule means that England is now in line with the rest of the United Kingdom. Plastic bag use has dropped considerably in Scotland, Wales a...
Environment
Our planet is changing. We need to help it change for the better and we're asking for your help to do that!
European Parliament declares climate emergency
In a separate vote, MEPs backed a resolution stating that the EU's current emissions reduction targets were 'not in line' with the 2015 Paris clima...
Fewer younger drivers points to need for change in road building plans
Passing your driving test and getting behind the wheel was once the dream of most young people - certainly that was the case when I got my licence ...
First ever legislation written by pupils
The group, who are mostly under 18, ranging from 13-26, created the Teach the Future campaign three months ago because they were unhappy about the ...
Food: Fairtrade
It can be difficult for farmers in poorer countries to get a fair price for the food they produce; Fairtrade exists to address this issue. These...
Food: Farming and the Environment
As consumers we can choose to buy food that has been produced ethically and sustainably. These resources comprise a set of informative teacher n...
Food: Food Miles
The food we eat makes up about 30% of our carbon footprint. Knowing how far it has travelled and how it has been stored is essential if we wish to...
Food: Food Waste
Around a billion people don't have enough food to eat, yet we throw away around a third of all the food produced. These resources comprise a set...
Food: Packaging and Recycling
Our food is packaged in a variety of ways, all of which have impacts on the environment. These resources comprise a set of informative teacher...
Four more days to submit your sustainable dish ideas
What we eat not only has an impact on our health. Our choices can also cause significant environmental impacts. For example, animal agriculture pr...
Fourth day of climate protests in London
Their protests are part of a worldwide campaign and there are 80 demonstrations planned in over 30 countries in the next few days. As with the s...
Fracking in Lancashire temporarily halted after seismic event
This kind of tremor could not be felt on the surface, but is very close to the Oil and Gas Authority's limit for a 'red alert', whereby a company i...
Freaky Friday Facts about plastic
Eleven top plastic facts 1. 16,000 plastic bottles are made in the world EVERY SECOND! 2. 500 billion plastic bottles are made in the world E...
Get to zero emissions by 2050, says new report
The CCC proposes a number of actions to reach net zero by 2050. For example, by eating less meat, by significantly increasing the use of renewable...
Government announces plans for plastic bottle charge
In the UK alone, we use about 13 billion plastic bottles per year and well under half of these are currently recycled. So if a deposit return sche...
Green Fundraising Ideas
Our top seven ideas for schools wishing to raise money for environmental causes.
Green Halloween Guide
Here's our guide to how you can have a very happy and environmentally-friendly Halloween.
Green Match Fund supports Better Planet Schools
We are delighted that YPTE is being supported by the Green Match Fund for a second year in a row. The first £5,000 donated via YPTE's Green Match ...
Greenhouse gases at new record level
Average global CO2 levels in 2017 were 405.5 parts per million - almost 50% higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution. WMO Secretary ...
Happy birthday YPTE!
In the year to 31 March 2012 alone, our three Education Officers have delivered over 980 talks in schools to audiences totalling over 40,000 young ...
Heatwaves
Produced in partnership with the Royal Meteorological Society, this pack of four lessons aims to develop young people's understanding of heatwaves,...
Hedges
The Anglo-Saxon word for enclosure was ‘haeg’ or gehaeg’ and this is were we get the word ‘hedge’.
Holiday of a Lifetime! (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch)
A film about the Great Pacific Garbage patch, made by students from Huish Episcopi Academy with help from the team at Explorium. This is the first...
Home Learning Activity: Make a bird feeder
Find out how to make a bird feeder using an old plastic bottle and a skewer.
Home Learning Activity: Make a bug hotel
Some instructions for making your very own bug hotel!
Home Learning Activity: Making a vertical garden
A great way of maximising limited garden space or creating a garden using a blank patch of outdoor wall is to use recycled plastic bottles to creat...
Home Learning Activity: Making a wildflower meadow
Find out about how to create your own wildflower meadow, which will in time become a haven for all kinds of insects and other wildlife and loom bea...
Home Learning Activity: Milk bottle elephants
Instructions for making beautiful elephants from plastic milk bottles.
Home Learning Pack: Garden Birds
Learn about the birds in your garden with this great home learning pack. Includes designs for making bird feeders from recycled materials, researc...
Home Learning Pack: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
Packed with great ideas for reducing your impacts and activities to help you recycle and re-use things, including making recycled paper, a recycled...
How are disabled people disproportionately affected by climate change?
Climate change is an ever-escalating global crisis that affects every environment, economy and society on a significant level. Since 1880 the avera...
How is electricity made?
Film on how electricty is made. Take a look at how we generate electricity using coal, oil and gas, hydroelectric power and nuclear energy. See a...
Introducing Better Planet Schools
Better Planet Schools is an online environmental education programme, created by the Young People's Trust for the Environment to engage children an...
List of Talks
The school talks service is available in person for schools within a 30-mile radius of our office in Yeovil OR on Zoom, Teams etc. for schools anyw...
Listen to the new YPTE Podcast
For Episode 1, YPTE President Cel Spellman talked about his love for the planet, his biggest hopes for the future and why he thinks young people ha...
MPs show support for student-written education bill
Teach the Future, a campaign made up of young people aged 13 to 26 released their draft of the Climate Emergency Education Act. The campaign is jo...
Making a milk bottle elephant
Join George as he shows you how to make a milk bottle elephant. Created in collaboration with Explorium, Lights On® Jam.
Meet Ellayna, another of YPTE's Young Trustees
Here's Ellayna, talking about why she's a Young Trustee of YPTE.
Millions take part in global climate strikes
In the UK, children will be walking out of classes to join the protests and hundreds of thousands of workers will be joining them. Climate strikes...
Ministers urged to favour renewables over nuclear power for our future energy needs
The NIC has said that a decade ago, it seemed unlikely that renewables could be a major part of energy generation in the UK, as they were quite sim...
New 25 year green plan announced by PM
Much of her speech to launch the plan concentrated on the issue of plastic pollution, which has come into much greater focus in recent months. The...
New Conservation Education now available to download
No matter where you look these days, you're likely to spot something made of plastic. Plastic can be shaped and moulded in all kinds of ways, it c...
New YPTE Podcast episode
Jen wrote her book when she was just 15. Find out about why she wrote it and her hopes for the future. You can listen by clicking here.
New competition to find a gifted young chef with a flair for sustainability.
Create a Sustainable Business Premier Dish is supported by Eurostar, working in partnership with the Young People's Trust for the Environment in th...
New download: Green Halloween Guide
Use our new guide to find out how you can make your Halloween a greener one. You dan download it here: https://ypte.org.uk/downloads/green-hallow...
New law this summer to extend life of appliances
‘Premature obsolescence’, where manufacturers build short lifespans into their products so that consumers need to buy replacements sooner should be...
New onshore wind projects in the UK soon...
A new auction scheme announced yesterday (2 March 2020) will enable onshore wind energy schemes to compete for subsidies alongside solar and floati...
New plan to bring forward UK's ban on fossil fuel vehicles
Fears have been raised about whether the National Grid, which manages the nation's electricity supplies, would cope with a massive increase in elec...
New report on future energy use released
The National Grid has been looking at the future of the UK's energy needs. It has concluded that the number of plug-in cars and vans could reach 9 ...
New videos now available
The two new short films, made by YPTE are on 'How electricity is made' and 'Renewable energy'. Please take a look!
New website brief
We are looking to redesign our website for 2024. Please download a copy of our briefing document, which outlines the tender process for contractor...
Our winners' 2,000 Words: now available for you to read!
The idea for the competition came from Jemma and Amy, two of YPTE's Young Trustees. They were certain that the competition would appeal to a lot o...
Paddleboarding environmentalist highlights plastic pollution in England's waterways
If we used a time machine to fast forward ourselves 500 years into the future, what would the archeologists of the future be finding out about us? ...
Petrol from air: the future of sustainable transport?
The petrol they can produce is purer than the product refined from oil and it can be used in an ordinary car engine. This means that our existing ...
Plastic Pollution
This downloadable zipped folder contains a suite of lesson plans, for Key Stage 2 and above. The lesson plans look at the problems caused by plast...
Plastic Pollution
This presentation accompanies the Plastic Pollution lesson plans for Key Stage 2 and above looks at the problems caused by plastic and covers the f...
Plastic bag charge may double
Speaking in Kenya yesterday, Mrs May said “I want to leave a greener, healthier environment for future generations, but with plastic in the sea sti...
Plastic found in tap water
New research published by Orb Media has revealed that 83% of tap water samples, taken from various sites around the world, were contaminated with m...
Rainforests
This set of lesson plans looks at rainforests, with particular focus on the Amazon. Lesson plans are brought to life by the stunning images in the...
Rainforests Assembly
An assembly presentation complete with presenter's notes.
Reduce livestock to combat climate change, says report
Other recommendations include protection for peatland and measures to ensure that no food waste goes to landfill by 2025. From a climate change ...
Reminder: Competition to win Go Ape! vouchers ends 30 October 2017
YPTE would really like to hear about what young people around the UK are doing to help look after our world. Your actions could inspire other young...
Renewable Energy
Find out about renewable energy, including wind turbines, tidal turbines, solar power (photovoltaics, solar heating and solar power stations) and w...
Research launched into impacts of microplastics on human health
The levels of microplastic found were roughly double that found in tap water by a previous study. Bottles tested originated from the US, Mexico, B...
Rudi and Harry's Eco Home
Rudi (age 8) and Harry (age 10) learned about eco homes as part of their work with 'Explorium Lights On', with a presentation on the topic from YPT...
Runners complete Everest Challenge for YPTE
If someone told you they were climbing to the top of Mount Everest, right here in Dorset, you’d probably think they were a bit mad. Well, guess wh...
SOS UK Student Sustainability Summit 2023
Last week I was able to attend the SOS-UK 2023 summit in Lincoln with Cambridge Climate Society. SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability)...
Scientists accidentally create enzyme that eats plastic
While tweaking the enzyme to find out how it had evolved, the scientists found that the changes they had made enabled the enzyme to break down PET ...
Scotland bans fracking
The public consultation attracted more than 65,000 responses, with 99% of replies originating from areas targeted by the fracking industry opposed ...
Scottish shoppers use 80% fewer plastic bags
A charge of 5p per bag has been charged by shops in Scotland since 20 October 2014 and in that time, stores have handed out 650 million fewer bags ...
Single-use is 2018's word of the year
2018 has been a year for campaigning against single-use plastics, with the EU planning to bring in a ban on single-use plastics from 2021 and with ...
So long, Terry
I remember back in 2002, YPTE’s entire staff team having been trained as inland waterways helmsmen, took a group of 30 ten year olds for a week-lon...
Stop Ecocide
The late Polly Higgins, Lawyer for the Earth, calls for a change to the law to criminalise Ecocide.
Summer 2017 was the UK's greenest yet for energy production
Battery storage is set to make a difference to the future of solar power too. A new 10 MegaWatt (MW) solar farm, capable of powering about 2,500-3...
Supermarket to sell food beyond its 'best before' date for the first time
All such goods will be sold for a set price - 10p each. Best before dates are provided by manufacturers and give a date up to which they are guara...
Supermarkets announce new green initiatives
Waitrose has announced that it will stop using disposable coffee cups in its stores by this autumn. From then on, members of its MyWaitrose loyalt...
Surge in demand for biomethane
There are now 98 biomethane plants in the UK, which produce methane gas using food leftovers and waste from farms, including manure and grass silag...
Survey shows half of young people want electric cars
The government’s commitment to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel powered cars by 2040 means that we motorists will at some point in the future ...
Sustainable Development
A suite of four lessons on sustainable development, covering: What does sustainable development mean? Pollution Over-use of natural resou...
Sustainable Living
This suite of 5 lessons looks at human impacts on our planet, current attempts to be more sustainable and the changes we will need to make in order...
Take part in PAGES!
Find out about the Primary Awards for Green Education in Schools and how your school can take part!
Tell us about what you’re doing to help the environment and have the chance to win a £30 Go Ape voucher!
So, if you’re aged between 5 and 17 and feel you’re doing something that helps the environment, please tell us about it. Examples might include: ...
Thank you!
We just wanted to say thank you to the Eco Team at Claremont High School Academy in Kenton for their second donation to YPTE this year. So far, yo...
The plastic-coated island where nobody lives
Yet Henderson Island, the largest of four islands in the Pitcairn Island group, has a human population of zero! Almost 18 tonnes of plastic, broke...
To Work on Two Wheels!
So, we take the train, we take the bus, or we take the car. We know that taking public transport reduces our carbon footprint, so in many cases it’...
Top Tips for a Green Christmas
Here are our ideas for some great ways of making your Christmas a greener one.
Transport
This suite of lessons and activities for Key Stage 2 looks at the following issues: What were the earliest types of transport? Why do so...
UK bans more single use plastic
However, the ban only applies to takeaways. It does not have any impact on single use items provided by supermarkets or shops. Whilst the ban is ...
UK rejects ban on charge for disposable coffee cups
Taking its inspiration from hugely successful 5p charge introduced on plastic carrier bags in England in October 2015, a charge on disposable cups...
United Nations says young people have important role in tackling the climate crisis
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aged 16, was among a group of young cimate cmapaigners speaking at the start of the second week of the C...
Update 2019
Here's a review of what YPTE has achieved in 2019.
Waitrose stops selling kids' magazines with plastic toys
Over the next eight weeks, magazines with 'pointless plastic' on their covers will be removed from the supermarket's shelves. The ban will not app...
Want to get your voice heard? Write to your local MP
If there's an environmental issue that's really worrying you and you'd like something done about it, pick up a pen and take action. You can write ...
Wave energy
Here's a fab video from our friends at Explorium showing how wave energy gets converted into power we can use every day!
Wet wipes set for a clean-up
An analysis of these monster sewer-stoppers by Water UK, the membership body for water providers, found that the 'fatbergs' were in reality more li...
What did COP26 achieve?
Ending deforestation Over 100 nations, including Brazil (home to a large proportion of the Amazon rainforest) and Russia (with over 20% of the wor...
While we shiver, the Arctic's getting hotter
Whilst there won't be any sunlight at the North Pole until early March, a heatwave in the Artic is actually the cause of the extreme wintry weather...
Why Plastic's Not So Fantastic
Short film on plastic, its uses, its history and why it is now presenting us with such a major environmental problem. Presented by YPTE Director Pe...
Wildlife Areas for Schools
Schools that have begun to develop their grounds often report that this has led to beneficial changes in relationships and attitudes and to the at...
Wildlife in the Garden
Share your garden with wildlife by creating habitats that help different species to thrive.
Winners of Primary Awards for Green Education in Schools 2023 announced
The awards ceremony also recognises the brilliant work being done in classrooms to educate, empower and inspire the next generation of environmenta...
World Car Free Day on 22 September 2018
It's probably easier to go car free if you live in a city than it is if you live in the countryside. But wherever you live, why not have a go...
Write to your local MP
Is there an environmental issue that really concerns you? Do you want the people in power to take action? Then write to your local MP, explain yo...
YPTE Green News - Issue 3
Download YPTE Green News for the Autumn Term 2023.
YPTE Green News Issue 1
The first issue of YPTE Green News, our new newsletter for schools.
YPTE Green News Issue 2
Enjoy the Summer Term edition of YPTE's newsletter for schools.
YPTE and Corporate Sponsors
YPTE recognises and understands the challenge that sustainable development poses to today's forward thinking companies. Our non-confrontational and...
YPTE gets support from Southern Co-operative
The new store, which has created 18 jobs for local people, opened on Monday (8 June), and is now open seven days a week from 6am-11pm. The Southern...
YPTE officially launches new website
This week, YPTE officially launched its new website at a Reception held at the House of Commons on 27 January. YPTE Presidents Steve Backshall, Je...
YPTE's Director is interviewed by NAPE
YPTE's Director was interviewed by Mike Aylen of the National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) about the work of YPTE. You can watch the i...
Yippittee - Issue 02 - Food Glorious Food
Phew! That was a close one! I just managed to avoid getting caught by one of those great big fishing nets. I hear the British people like eating fi...
York Minster to fit solar panels
Visitors to the Minster will be able to see how much energy the panels have produced and the amount of carbon emissions they have prevented via a d...
Young chefs need to get cooking!
Entrants have to devise a dish using sustainable, locally-sourced seasonal ingredients that can be served on Business Premier, Eurostar's highest l...
Young explorer completes trek down the Yangtze River
When he was 24, Ash traversed the 1,500-mile length of Mongolia, with 18 stone survival trailer, solo and unsupported, in just 78 days. Then at 26...
Young people in school strikes to highlight climate change inaction
Their school strike has been inspired by 16 year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden, who began a solo protest about climate change outside her country'...
Young people show politicians the way on climate change
Striking and memorable slogans were painted on placards grasped by students across the world. Wherever they were protesting, they were united in t...
Young people urge world leaders to adopt climate treaty
The Mock COP26 Treaty outlines 18 policies young people have developed over the course of two weeks through speeches and negotiations, and covers ...
Zephan's Nature Garden
Zephan has been making his garden more nature-friendly. Find out how in his fantastic video that he produced for YPTE, created in collaboration wi...
Zero carbon energy overtakes fossil fuels for UK electricity production
There has been a significant rise renewable energy, which in 2009 was producing only about 2% of our energy needs. Now, renewables are producing 2...
‘Shocking’ lack of climate change planning from UK government
The Committee's report finds that the population is at real risk, because crisis preparations are being run ‘like Dad’s Army’ and funding has been ...