Turning Climate Ambition into Action: A North Yorkshire Success Story

In North Yorkshire, two passionate changemakers: Fiona Protheroe, Climate Emergency Officer and Ruth Stacey, Schools Carbon Reduction Officer, have led the way in turning climate ambition into climate action. Through their partnership with the Climate Ambassadors Scheme and their roles at North Yorkshire Council, they’ve empowered over 100 local schools to take bold steps in their sustainability journey.

Launching the Movement: Allerton Waste Recovery Park

The journey began at Allerton Waste Recovery Park, where Fiona and Ruth hosted a Climate Action Planning event for Sustainability Leads from local schools. Attendees toured the facility to witness firsthand what happens to the waste they generate and were given the opportunity to discuss ways in which they could reduce their impact on the climate.

With the help from representatives from the Department for Education Sustainability Support Programme: Climate Ambassadors Scheme, National Education Nature Park and Let’s Go Zero, schools began drafting their own Climate Action Plans. These plans outlined practical, school-specific strategies to reduce carbon footprints and embed sustainability into all aspects of school life.

Expanding Access: Online Workshops for All

Recognising that not every school could attend in person, Fiona and Ruth launched an inclusive online workshop. “We wanted to reach as many schools as possible,” Fiona explained. The virtual session mirrored the in-person experience, ensuring no school was left behind.

To identify gaps in participation, they conducted a mapping activity that discovered coastal schools in the Scarborough area were underrepresented. Their response? A third event, hosted at the University of Coventry’s Scarborough campus, tailored specifically for these schools.

Action Plans That Evolve

For Fiona and Ruth, the workshops were just the beginning. They believed that Climate Action Plans are living documents, which are adapted as goals are met and new challenges arise. With this in mind, they invited schools to share their plans by adding a new section to the North Yorkshire Council Healthy Schools & Early Years award website – Climate Action Plan > Healthy Schools North Yorkshire On this area of the website schools were invited to upload their Climate Action Plans for personalised feedback and gained a badge and certificate. In addition to providing this online space to share Climate Action Plans, they also hosted follow-up meetings to offer continued support and guidance. 

Where to next?

After noticing that Early Years settings were underrepresented at their recent events, Fiona and Ruth saw a valuable opportunity for growth and inclusion. Motivated to ensure that North Yorkshire’s youngest learners and the educators who support them are part of the region’s sustainability journey, Fiona and Ruth have decided that their next step is to share climate information and training with North Yorkshire’s Early Years providers.

To achieve this, they will share the key learning from the Climate Action Planning workshops delivered earlier in the year. This will provide Early Years settings with clear, practical guidance on the four pillars of an effective Climate Action Plan:

The aim is to inspire confidence, spark enthusiasm, and empower Early Years practitioners to begin their sustainability journey.

Collabroation at its best

This initiative has become a beacon of collaborative success. Fiona, Ruth, the Climate Ambassadors Scheme, and the Department for Education sister projects and Let’s Go Zero have shown what’s possible when local government, educators, and national programmes unite. Their work has equipped schools with the tools and confidence to make sustainability a reality.

From waste recovery tours to tailored workshops and ongoing mentorship, Fiona and Ruth have made climate action not just achievable—but exciting. Their story is proof that with the right support, every school can work towards tackling climate change.