In the canteen of the Erich-Fried-Gesamtschule in Wuppertal-Ronsdorf there is only organic meat – if at all. Veggie is on the rise here. The students pushed it through themselves. Lina Börger, student representative: “It’s unbelievable how much CO2 can be saved on a single canteen day.The 19-year-old high school graduate has been involved in the school for years. First in the theaterInc, later in climate protection. Now she has one with her fellow campaigners Veggie Day enforced in the school canteen.
How does anyone get to school?
Lina Börger and her team asked students and teachers how they got to school. After all, the means of transport is crucial CO2-Output, says Lina Börger. “We found that many more would cycle to school if there were secure parking.“Now the ancient bicycle racks, which were notorious for killing rims, are to be replaced with modern bicycle racks. But they have to wait.
Friends of the association donate bicycle boxes
In addition, the students, together with the association, donated lockable bicycle boxes. However, they still have to be set up by a specialist company – and the tender for the order is still ongoing. “It’s frustrating when you keep coming up against bureaucratic hurdlessays Lina Boerger.
New photovoltaic system
It worked better with the photovoltaic system – and Lina Börger is particularly proud of that. The old system was broken a long time ago. “We drilled and kept making inquiries until the city repaired the plant.”
With a lot of passion
Principal Heike Flowerday is overwhelmed by the commitment of her students. “They put a lot of heart and soul into it“, she says. They had long since developed into climate experts and made countless suggestions on how to save energy. Many findings have long been incorporated into the lessons – for example in biology, where nutrition is always a topic. The activities of Fridays for Future are discussed in social sciences.
Support from the Wuppertal Institute
The students are supported by the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. Project manager Oliver Wagner is enthusiastic: “This is the next generation. You can ensure that politicians act faster in the future than they have in the past.“
Frustrated by the headmistress
However, it is always frustrating when projects fail because of money, says the headmistress of Erich Fried Comprehensive School in Wuppertal, Heike Flowerday. “We urgently need new windows, better building insulation and would like to get rid of our old oil heating system.“But the city doesn’t have the money for that at the moment.
Students don’t want to give up
Despite all the frustration about the bureaucracy, Lina Börger and her colleagues want to continue. The small successes in particular encouraged her to stick to her goal of a climate-neutral school. Her classmate Justus Willecke sums it up: “I think we’ve come too far to give up.“
