In Belém, state school holds 'Mini COP 30' to engage students in climate debates
Student protagonism, awareness, and sustainability were the highlights of the initiative conceived by the Palmira Gabriel State School
To raise awareness in the school community and stimulate student participation in debates about the environment, sustainability, and climate, the Palmira Gabriel State School, in Icoaraci, a district of Belém, held a "Mini COP 30" on this Monday (23). With the theme "Our future is at stake: youth for the climate, for a sustainable future," the event involved the school community in workshops, lectures, exhibitions, cultural activities, and debates on climate justice, environmental racism, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations (UN), and the consequences of environmental changes on the planet.
According to the school's principal, Lana Pontes, the initiative is a way to bring the school community closer to the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), which will be held in Belém in November this year. "The holding of COP in Brazil, specifically in the Amazon, in Belém do Pará, is a good opportunity to address and strengthen themes related to the environment in schools, to discuss climate change, to intensify Environmental Education in schools. It is necessary to strengthen the feeling in our students. It is important to know that each of our actions is not insignificant. Each of us makes a difference in transforming our daily practices, becoming increasingly aware of our place in the environment. After all, we are part of this whole," emphasized the manager.
She also emphasized that the entire school community engaged in the culmination of the project. "The school was involved as a whole, in all three shifts: full-time education, high school, and Youth and Adult Education (EJA). This event is something important for collective construction and strengthening Environmental Education in the school environment," highlighted Lana Pontes.
Opening horizons - "The Mini COP came with all this load of concepts about climate justice, climate change, environmental racism, sustainability. We were able to continue the work that has been carried out since the Youth Conference in this activity, which had the support of all teachers and students. It was truly an interdisciplinary activity. We had workshops on SDG 18 with speakers from outside the school. We also partnered with UFPA (Federal University of Pará) and BSGI (Brazil Soka Gakkai International), an NGO linked to peace and education worldwide. With this activity, we were able to open this horizon for new perspectives within the school, and everyone participated, from the doorman to the lunch lady," said Valdenise Araújo, Environmental Education teacher and project creator.
The educator also emphasized "the commitment that the Palmira Gabriel School has regarding care for the environment and climate. It is not something that ends with this event, but it is an activity that will remain in the school, which continues here because we produced methodological material. It is something that will remain as a legacy."
Knowledge - For 9th-grade student João Carlos Ferreira, the event brought important learning beyond the classroom. "This event was, and has been, a great opportunity for students to learn and become aware of the environment. Before this event, I didn't know much about what COP 30 was. However, here I learned more about environmental issues and was able to better understand the consequences of climate crises, and how COP 30 can improve our future and help preserve the environment," said João Carlos.
For the development of the project, students conducted research and presentations on topics such as solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems; production of organic compost and organic gel for the school garden; creation of a solidarity economy shop (whose resources will be used for the students' graduation party); research on burning rates; rising ocean levels; impacts of improper waste disposal; photographic exhibition of improper waste disposal in the communities where they live; environmental racism and gender issues.
They also developed toys and games, as well as decorative items to adorn the thematic classrooms; participated in debates on climate change, the importance of water on the planet and its impacts on health and planetary life, in addition to cultural presentations about Amazonian legends and dances, and a parade with sustainable clothing made by the students.
The "Mini COP 30" was conceived by teacher Valdenise Araújo, of Environmental Education, Geography, and Life Project, along with teachers Regina Sales, Fernanda Cunha, Edson Henrique, Vinícius Magalhães, Ivaneide Coelho, Helrick Cordeiro, Suely Larrat, Fabrício Cordeiro, Ribamar Santos, Otávio Leite, Nilza Pinho, Marineide Cuimar, Marcela Aritéia, Débora Reis, Vania Martins, and Agnaldo Aires, in addition to support from the school's pedagogical team.
Pioneering - The State Department of Education (Seduc) has been offering, since the first semester of 2024, the Environmental Education component at all stages of education, as a mandatory subject in state schools. This component can be adopted by municipalities, based on the Environmental Education, Sustainability, and Climate Policy.
Seduc highlighted that the environmental content makes Pará a pioneer in ensuring a mandatory curricular component of sustainability, encouraging student participation and engagement in discussions on fundamental agendas for Pará, whose capital, Belém, will host COP 30 in November 2025.
