Mayor announces Climate Kick-Start 2022 to inspire more secondary school students into green careers

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched this year’s Climate Kick Start – a city-wide schools programme to empower young people to help tackle the climate emergency, loss of wildlife and air pollution.

Working with Bloomberg L.P and Let’s Go Zero 2030, the 2022 programme will focus on encouraging students into green careers to respond to the growing demand for skills in renewable energy, home energy efficiency, green finance and electric transport.

A week of career-focused activities will take place from 7 – 11 November, coinciding with the first week of COP27 in Egypt. Four green careers events will be held in London, as well as drop-in activities at secondary schools for students unable to travel, will give thousands of students an insight into the broad range of green jobs on offer.

Five schools will be awarded £10,000 each to help kick-start or accelerate environmental action and provide students with the practical experience of designing and implementing environmental solutions.

A digital ‘green careers’ toolkit will be made available to all secondary schools in London, giving practical advice about accessing green jobs, how they help to reduce damage to our planet and what GCSEs and future pathways will best prepare students for a green career.

Last year, over 66,000 secondary students from across London took part in the Climate Kick-Start 2021 during the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26). Of the 66,000 students who took part, nearly 40 per cent were from lower income households, and 65 per cent of students were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.

Winning projects included a hot composting and mushroom farming project, solar powered rainwater harvesting and a new facility for cycle storage and skills.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:

“I am thrilled to announce the return of our Climate Kick-Start programme. These activities will empower young Londoners to tackle the dangers of the climate emergency, air pollution and the loss of wildlife.

“We need to take bold action now and I’m keen for young Londoners, the future leaders of our city, to help us build a better London for everyone – a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all.

“Green jobs and skills are integral to help tackle inequality by providing better paid work, as well as providing the vital skills needed to tackle the climate crisis. I hope that through this programme, young Londoners can see how important these jobs are and choose green careers in the future.”

Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy at Bloomberg LP said:

“Tackling climate change requires innovative thinking and collaboration across society. Through our work with London’s young people, we know that they have bold ideas to help protect the natural world and are determined to lead sustainable change in their communities. We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Mayor of London to accelerate creative solutions and inspire the next generation.” 

Alex Green, Programme Manager, Let’s Go Zero 2030 said:

“The Let’s Go Zero campaign is delighted to be working again on the Climate Kick-Start with the Mayor of London and Bloomberg. This work provides schools in London with an essential opportunity to engage with environmental action and develop the skills and knowledge they need to progress into a green career”.

Applications are now open for London secondary schools and alternative education providers to apply for one of the five £10,000 Climate Kick-Start prizes or to register for one of the free events.    

Visit www.london.gov.uk/climate-kick-start to apply.

The Climate Kick-Start further supports the work the Mayor is already doing to help young Londoners impacted by the effects of climate change and air pollution, through schemes such as:

• the Schools Climate Resilience Programme that will support schools to build their resilience to a changing climate through water efficiency and sustainable drainage measures
• the Grow Back Greener Fund – £1.2m in funding to support community projects to improve access to green spaces and make London more resilient to a changing climate
• the Schools and Early Years Climate Change guidance – advice for London schools and early years settings to help them better prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including overheating and flood risk
• the London Community Energy Fund – grant funding to support green community energy projects such as solar panels on schools and GP surgeries
• the Schools Air Quality Audit Programme and Pollution Helpdesk – audits of primary schools in London’s most polluted areas and funding to help schools take action, such as schemes to prevent ‘engine idling’ outside school gates
• Breathe London – with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, a network of air pollution sensors installed at hospitals, schools and in local communities to measure pollution locally, producing real-time air-quality data that Londoners can access
• School Streets – with funding from TfL and support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, roads surrounding schools are closed to motor traffic at drop-off and pick-up times, enabling children to walk or cycle to school, reducing car trips and improving air quality.