Engage with Climate, Sustainability and Environmental Awareness Days
At the Institute of Education, we want to spread awareness of local, national and international environmental awareness days.
We believe engaging in fun educational activities are great ways to learn and teach others more about climate, sustainability, and the environment, highlight key issues, and engage with the natural world around us in our everyday life.
Please see CASE IOE Awareness Days in 2024-2025!
If you and your school are thinking of getting involved and would be happy to share some photos of what you get up to – please email g.j.gidley@reading.ac.uk to request consent forms and send photos to.
| When? | What? | Who? | Information |
| 14 October 2024 | 8th World Environmental Day 2024 | Everyone | The World Environmental Education Day was established on October 14th in order to celebrate the first intergovernmental conference on environmental education held in Tbilisi (Georgia) from October 14th to 26th 1977.
On October 14th, 1977, the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education, organized by UNESCO and UNEP, opened in Tbilisi (Georgia’s capital), and ended on October 26th with a statement of great relevance still today. Now, for the whole month of October, during the World Environmental Education Day educational institutions, environmental organizations, parks, museums and many other entities dedicate special events to raise public awareness of the importance of environmental education. |
| 4-9
November 2024 |
Green Careers Week | Teacher and Student | Green Careers Week is an exciting event that raises aspiration, supports diversity, challenges stereotypes, and promotes real opportunities for young people to have a career that will genuinely make a difference. Discover careers, jobs, roles, and career pathways that are green careers and develop green skills.
A green career can be any job, role or occupation that contributes to preserving or restoring the environment and our planet. It can be any industry, not just those seen as ‘green.’ Green skills are abilities, attributes, values, attitudes, knowledge, and technical skills needed to adapt services, processes and procedures to support climate change. As the official technical education partners of Green Careers Week 2024, we are hosting free interactive online events for schools and students across KS3, KS4, and KS5. These sessions, held in collaboration with Education and Employers and our wider partner network, aim to inspire and inform students about green careers and technical pathways. Green Careers Week Virtual Events – WorldSkills UK Green Careers Week 2024 – Green Careers Hub
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| 7 November 2024 | Outdoor Classroom Day | Children and Schools | Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day. On two days of action each year, teachers take children outdoors to play and learn. All year round, the Outdoor Classroom Day community campaigns for more time outdoors every day. |
| 19-21
November 2024 |
University of Reading Green Festival | Everyone | Green Festival is our annual sustainability celebration where we engage with our University community to promote, educate and celebrate sustainable actions.
Green Festival 2024 Event Programme Upcoming Events – Sustainability Behaviour Change – Upcoming Events |
| 7th January – 14th
February 2025 |
Big Schools Birdwatch
Big Schools Birdwatch Resources
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Children and Schools | Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a simple bird survey for pupils to take part in and enjoy together.
This activity is about counting the number of birds in your school grounds. It only takes an hour, so one lesson or lunchtime is ideal. The results also contribute to Big Garden Birdwatch – the world’s largest wildlife survey. The Big Schools Birdwatch is an annual event that takes place January to February. |
| 22nd April
2025 |
Earth Day | Everyone | In 2025, we celebrate the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. To mark this milestone, we invite everyone to support Earth Day’s 2025 theme: OUR POWER, OUR PLANET™.
Let’s unite in our collective global commitment to renewable energy, whether it’s solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal or tidal – to generate clean electricity for everyone. By 2035 energy needs in countries such as the US can be met by renewable sources, 365 days a year, which is why we are calling for renewable energy generation, globally, to be tripled by 2030.
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| 20 May 2025 | World Bee Day | Everyone | World Bee Day is observed across the world on May 20. On this day, beekeeping events are held to educate the general public about the importance of bees and beekeeping. There is a special emphasis on the role of bees as pollinators and how they help to revive forest cover. Because the bee population is under threat, World Bee Day informs us how to protect bees and other pollinators. The Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association took the initiative for World Bee Day, which is now celebrated by environmentalists all over the world. |
| 5 June 2025 | World Environment Day | Everyone | World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Held annually since 1973, the Day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. With the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the helm, over 150 countries participate each year. Major corporations, non-governmental organizations, communities, governments and celebrities from across the world adopt the World Environment Day brand to champion environmental causes.
Republic of Korea to host World Environment Day 2025 with a focus on ending plastic pollution. The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea’s mission is to conserve natural and living environments, prevent environmental pollution, and conserve, utilize, and develop water resources in a sustainable manner.
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| 2025 | Reading Climate Festival | University and Community | (2 weeks before show your stripes day) |
| June 2025 | Pollinator Day | Everyone | |
| 21 June 2025 | Show Your Stripes | Everyone | This year the Baton Relay will be passing through Whiteknights Campus as part of Show Your Stripes Day.
https://running-out-of-time.com/ https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2023/University-News/Show-Your-Stripes-Day-2023-roundup |
| Third Thursday of June 2025
(TBC) |
National Clean Air Day | Everyone | Clean Air Day is a campaign delivered across the UK – with a range of resources for all Clean Air Day supporters – from local authorities, schools, health professionals, campaign and community groups and individuals.
Write to your councillor and let them know how important clean air is to you and your community. Follow our step-by-step guide on the Clean Air Hub.
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