Global Citizenship -
Litter and Waste

Global Citizenship – Litter and Waste is a maintenance theme which enables schools to discover how Green-Schools work has positively influenced people and environments worldwide while revising the previous Litter and Waste theme.
Sustainable Development Goals

The Global Citizenship Litter & Waste theme will give you the opportunity to build on the excellent work you’ve already undertaken as a Green-School, and to give it a global dimension. Your students will be educated to understand their moral rights and obligations as citizens of the world.

Find out more about this theme, upcoming events and competitions, and theme resource clicking on the button below.

Global Citizenship

The sun’s energy is the primary source of energy for all life on Earth. Energy changes form at each step in the chain. Humans and other organisms use energy to survive (grow, change, maintain health, move, and reproduce).

To heat our homes and schools we need an energy source. These energy sources can be categorised as renewable or non-renewable energy. Renewable energy is one that can be easily replenished while non-renewable is one that cannot. Examples of renewable energy include; solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydropower.

Fossil Fuels are non-renewable and include; oil, natural gas and coal. These are formed under intense pressure and heat over millions of years from the buried remains of plants and animals. Burning fossil fuels releases energy in the form of heat. In recent decades, humans have been burning more and more fossil fuels to meet the world’s energy demands. Burning fossil fuels contributes to acid rain, which is implicated in the loss of wildlife in lakes and rivers, the reduction of land fertility and the destruction of trees. Furthermore, by burning fossil fuels to release heat we are releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere faster than plants can absorb it. CO2 is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect; as more fuels are burnt, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 increases, causing the average global temperature to rise.

Climate Change affects the distribution of climatic regions, sea level changes and ultimately, the planet’s ability to support human communities.

The good news is, there are simple steps we can take to reduce our energy consumption at home and in school. Many of which are simple low and no-cost actions that can be carried out to increase efficient use of energy and help save you money.

Facts & Figures

Global Goals Book Club

Explore the 17 Sustainable Development Goals through books suitable for all ages in our Global Goals Book Club. Click the button below to access a book for almost all SDGs (with more on the way) and the recordings and resources to bring the stories and the goals to life!

What You Can Do

Useful Links

Working on the Global Citizenship – Litter & Waste theme made us really look at our school population and celebrate all the different nationalities represented within it. We learned about each other’s places of birth, focused on greetings in different languages, learned how birthdays are celebrated in different countries and what people like to eat for breakfast. This created positive feelings of other places and highlighted our similarities.

St Columba's GNS with Facility for Deaf Children, Douglas, Cork
Explore the 17 Sustainable Development Goals through books suitable for all ages in our Global Goals Book Club. Click the button below to access a book for almost all SDGs (with more on the way) and the recordings and resources to bring the stories and the goals to life!

Resources

We have an extensive range of resources covering all themes.

Suirbhé ar Naisc Dhomhanda /Global Connections

This activity will show you how you are connected to many different people and countries across the globe.

Global Connections Survey – English

This activity will show you how you are connected to many different people and countries across the globe.

Lunch Waste – Packaging

Use this handy reference to identify types of lunch packaging and how to dispose of it properly!

Case Studies

We have an extensive range of resources covering all themes.
Group of diverse schoolboys and schoolgirl sitting at desks in classroom at primary school, writing or drawing in notebook. Reopening and return back to school

St Joseph’s GNS, Clonakilty

St Joseph's GNS received the Green Flag for Global Citizenship  - Litter & Waste in 2015. The school is located in Clonakilty, Co. Cork and comprises of 221 students and 10 members of staff.

160225_NCP1_249

Coláiste Bríde Secondary School, Clondalkin

Coláiste Bride is based in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin and was awarded the Green Flag for Global Citizenship – Litter and Waste in 2015. The school has 80 teachers and 950 students in attendance.

Senior teacher teaching group of elementary students in the classroom.

St. Clare’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross

St. Clare's Primary School is a mixed primary school based in Harold's Cross in Dublin City.

Senior teacher teaching group of elementary students in the classroom.

St Joseph’s GNS, Clonakilty

St Joseph's GNS received the Green Flag for Global Citizenship  - Litter & Waste in 2015. The school is located in Clonakilty, Co. Cork and comprises of 221 students and 10 members of staff.

News

We have an extensive range of resources covering all themes.

The Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project is part of the Portlaoise Low Carbon Town Initiative. While the project was initiated by Laois Co. Co., it is run in the 10 primary …

We are delighted to launch the Green-Schools Water Poster & Video Competition 2025 to eligible schools*. The theme of the competition this year is Water is Life. Travel anywhere in …

We are delighted to announce our 6th year of Clean Air Week for 2024. The CAW crew have some facts, figures and fun activities prepared for you as well as …

Partners

Sponsors

Our work is supported by our generous sponsors with gratitude.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
  • Word or phrase

  • Area