Environmental research

Overall objective: Reduced emission of CO2 through energy efficiency measures in secondary schools Koco Racin and Dimitrija Cupovski in Veles. With the implementation of this project, the schools will reduce the consumption of electricity and consequently reduce the emission of CO2. Additionally, the project aims at educating and informing the general public in the municipality of Veles, and beyond, in order to increase the individual responsibility and encourage local initiatives for sustainable development. Considering the above mentioned problems / challenges at a global, national and local level, the overall objective of the project is contributing towards reducing climate change, through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We plan to do this by using the approach of solving local challenges that contribute towards the global problem. The project includes the involvement of all stakeholders from the local community (business sector, local government, citizens, students, parents, NGOs and the media) in order to encourage an integrated approach in dealing with common challenges. We believe that, only through active participation and involvement of the whole community can we achieve a sense of ownership and responsibility, and to ensure sustainable development of the investment. In circumstances where it is not currently possible to achieve effective influence on a national level, we believe that focusing on activities at the local level can contribute towards spreading the influence, raising the awareness and increasing the opportunities for implementing changes at the national level. The proposed project aims to use the lessons learned from other projects that sucessfuly implemented energy efficiency measures and expand these initiatives and to encourage the creation of sustainable communities in other regions of Macedonia as well. In 1997, the Association of Citizens OXO began with the implementation of the pilot program We do not have a spare planet through the production of eco calendars for primary schools and kindergartens. Resulting with great interest on behalf of the educational institutions, the program continues to expand and grow, by adding new components. The purpose of this program is to support the education of children and students, ages 3 to 18, and creating future generations that are environmentally educated. This program realizes its goal through: - The supply of educational institutions with the theoretical knowledge in the field of environmental protection through continuous development and production of educational materials. - Realization of practical environmental projects with educational institutions. In 2007 OXO became a member of the international network of organizations FEE, or the Foundation for Environmental Education. With this membership OXO became a national operator for FEE programs and was given the right to implement five environmental educational programs, including the How to become an Eco School program. In 2008, the first network of 85 eco-schools was established. These schools work on implementing the methodology of seven steps eco-management on nine environmental themes. - Informing and involving the general public through a number of environmentally-educational campaigns and the children s TV show 5 +, which is broadcasted on two national televisions, Telma TV and Alsat TV, in Albanian and Macedonian. In 2010, by signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the We do not have a spare planet program, became mandatory for all educational institutions in the Republic of Macedonia, and was renamed into: Integration of environmental education in the Macedonian educational system . This means that all educational institutions in the Republic of Macedonia are required to implement the program, including it in their annual work plans by integrating the four eco-standards in the curricula and practically implementing them. The Eco-standards, or the sustainable development standards, are: - Saving Energy - Saving water - Maintenance of the building and a healthy school environment - A tidy and environmentally friendly school yard. The Eco-standards, as part of this Program, are a guide for each educational institution in the creation of development policies and preservation of the environment. These standards contain clearly set goals that produce specific and measurable results. Through the implementation of the action points of the four eco-standards, using the methodology of the seven steps of the Eco School program, the educational institutions perform specific changes in the environment that lead towards financial savings for both the educational institution and the wider community. So far, there were more than 50 eco-projects, and many other are under way as part of this network, all leading towards environmental management of educational institutions and result in specific and measurable results. As part of the How to become an eco-school program, schools have the opportunity to implement environmental projects and apply for a certain status of the program (Bronze, Silver, and Green flag level). The Green flag level is the highest achievement of a school, in terms of the adopting environmental protection as one of the core values in their management, education and actions. Gymnazium Koco Racin in Veles is a school that has has gained the Green flag level, which

Macedonia