Erasmus+ Priorities: Environment and Fight Against Climate Change

Priority

Understanding the Key Priority

Environment and Fight Against Climate Change is one of four key Erasmus+ priorities. The European Green Deal is the European new growth strategy. It recognises the key role of schools, training institutions and universities to engage with pupils, parents, and the wider community on the changes we need for Europe to become ‘climate neutral’ by 2050.

Practicalities

Putting a Priority into Practice

Putting this key priority into practice takes involvement from beneficiary organisations and stakeholders in Erasmus+. Here’s how:

  • Erasmus+ will increase the number of mobility opportunities in green forward-looking fields
  • Erasmus+ will promote sustainable transport methods and more responsible behaviour
  • Environment and the fight against global warming will become a horizontal priority for selecting projects
  • Erasmus+ supports the use of innovative practices to make learners, staff and youth workers true agents of change
  • Priority will be given to projects that – through education, training, youth and sport activities – enable behavioural changes for individual preferences, cultural values and awareness for sustainable development, consumption habits, and lifestyles.

Organisations and participants should try to incorporate ‘green’ practices in all projects, by taking an environmental-friendly approach when designing their activities. We encourage organisations to discuss and learn about environmental issues, to reflect on local actions and to explore alternative, sustainable ways of carrying out their activities!

Project

From Priority to Project!

Feeling inspired, but unsure how you can apply the priority to your own project? Take a look at the work of some previous Erasmus+ projects that focused on the Environment and Fight Against Climate Change. 

Green Entrepreneurship: What Role Does Erasmus+ Play in Environmental Matters
features Tomás O’Dowd, a teacher at St Tiernan’s Community School in Dublin. As part of a project funded by Erasmus+ School Education, his secondary school collaborated with a school in Portugal to explore sustainable energy and to clear plastic from their environment. 

Junior Business Minds: How Erasmus+ Promotes Entrepreneurship and Environmental Awareness shows how O’Brennan National School in Co. Kerry worked with five other schools across Europe to develop ‘eco-friendly’ games.