Eco-Schools: Engaging the Youth of Today to Protect the Planet of Tomorrow

Eco-Schools is the largest global sustainability school program, with over 59,000 schools that engage 20 million students and 1.4 million teachers across 93 countries. The program was developed in response to the needs identified at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Eco-Schools has grown to become a global model for environmental education (EE) and education for sustainable development (ESD) and has been recognized by UNESCO and UN Environment. Today, the Eco-Schools program is coordinated internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an umbrella organization with over 100 members worldwide. This article discusses why the program is an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path toward improving the environmental footprint of both the school and the local community while at the same time having a lifelong positive impact on the lives of young people, their families, school staff, and community members.