(2.10.2009)

A new cycle in the Environment and Innovation programme was launched on 15 September 2009 with the theme Climate Change: Let’s Save Energy! Environment and Innovation is a partnership between Toyota Motor Europe and Eco-Schools International. The two earlier cycles saw the involvement of more than 40,000 students. Over 50 school projects were implemented in local communities.

For the first time, Toyota retailers will be involved in the work carried out by their local Eco-Schools. The retailers will work together with the schools to develop and implement innovative environmental projects in their local communities. Because of the close link between existing Toyota retailer initiatives to save energy and the goals of the Eco-School programme, the theme of the 2007-2009 cycle, “Climate Change: Let’s Save Energy,” will be used again in this cycle.

The pilot project will be run in Slovenia and Denmark. At the end of the school year, the best projects at the national and international level will be recognised with grants.

Environment and Innovation is a project that encourages Eco-Schools to develop innovative and creative solutions to environmental problems. Winning entries receive a grant to help them put their ideas into action and to work with the local community to tackle environment-related issues.

The project was established in 2005 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the international Eco-Schools Programme. Environment and Innovation is supported by Toyota Motor Europe through the Toyota Fund for Europe (TFfE). 

This will be the third cycle of the Environment and Innovation project. The first cycle was run between 2005 and 2007 with the theme “Sustainable Mobility”. This cycle included schools in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and Northern Island. For more information on this cycle see: http://www.eco-schools.org/innovation/.

The second cycle ran between 2007 and 2009 with the theme “Climate Change: Let’s Save Energy”. Schools in Demark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Turkey participated. For more information see http://www.eco-schools.org/innovation2008/index.php.