Hungarian students would learn about climate change as a separate subject

(Photo: Pixabay)

10 student teams from various secondary schools in the country competed in the Innovation Day held at the Budapest office of EY Global Delivery Services (GDS). Organized by Junior Achievement Hungary, the young people developed plans to make their school more sustainable with the help of their teachers and colleagues working in EY’s global service center. The students could also take part in a survey that examined their expectations regarding sustainability. Based on the answers, a fifth of schoolchildren expect only a slight increase in temperature as a result of climate change, but more than half of them (56%) believe that drought and famine may threaten humanity in their lifetime, and a quarter (23%) think that civilization may even perish .

Students mostly (84%) try to protect the environment by selective waste collection

Most people would first reduce their energy consumption in order to mitigate climate change. According to more than half of the respondents (55%), there would be a great need for a separate school subject dealing with climate change and sustainability, but a third of the respondents would be satisfied if the topic were discussed more in other classes. In any case, the school is a natural field for the exchange of ideas about environmental protection, since four out of ten students talk about this topic most often with their teachers, three with classmates and friends, and a fifth of the respondents with their parents and family. Students would make schools more sustainable primarily by (48%) installing equipment that utilizes renewable energy, (33%) by planting more green plants, and – in order to use less paper – by expanding digital education (17%).

“Environmental protection and sharing knowledge with young people are both important to us,” emphasized Dominik Wozniak, head of integration at GDS in Budapest. “Our employees were very enthusiastic and helped the students as mentors to prepare well-developed plans that were feasible from a business point of view, transparent and attractive, containing financial calculations. On the Innovation Day, all 10 teams worked to make their school greener. Among the many exciting presentations, the rainwater collection system of the Xantus János high school and the idea of an environmentally friendly conversion of the lighting of the Vocational High School of the University of Szeged were awarded. We are confident that with the help of the monetary reward associated with success, they will be able to realize their ideas.”

Previous generations, companies and governments all contributed to the formation of the greenhouse effect – nearly four fifths of the surveyed students share this view. In line with this, nine out of ten believe that solving the problems caused by climate change is the responsibility of all of us. According to the students, companies could best help sustainability by promoting environmentally friendly solutions, using renewable energy and producing less waste.

EY continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

For two years now, it has been operating as a carbon-negative company, meaning it removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces. The company aims to be a net zero emitter by 2025. As part of its efforts, it invests in new technologies, services and products that help minimize its customers’ emissions and at the same time reduce its clients’ ecological footprint. EY also introduced Ripples, a global corporate responsibility program in which employees can use their knowledge, skills and experience to improve the lives of millions by supporting future generations, collaborating with influential entrepreneurs and accelerating environmental sustainability.