11-14 Introduction

Download: 11-14 Guide to GetGreenGo™
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The challenge for us all

We need to change how we use our planet's resources. If we're not careful, many could run out. Fossil fuel resources, like oil, gas and coal, power our homes, cars and towns. But this causes global climate change.

We need to use resources in more sustainable ways. This will help to save them for the future. Could you do this for a school event?

How BSI standards can help

BSI British Standards (BSI) is the UK's 'national standards body'. Standards are guidelines for businesses to follow.

Standards help organizations to be more sustainable. For example, standards can help them to reduce, recycle, reuse, and rethink more.

The new British Standard, BS 8901 is for people who organize events. This might be a music concert, festival, sports event, or even a large meeting. The new standard will help events to use fewer resources.

There are thousands of events each year in the UK. Together, they use a lot of natural resources. Leading events' organizers helped us to create this new standard. They include Lord's Cricket Ground and Live Nation - the world's biggest concert promoter and organizer. They helped us create a standard that the whole events industry can use. This will make a real difference to the environment.

In 2012 the Olympics will come to London. This will be the largest event the UK has ever seen. Every day, nearly 200,000 athletes and staff, and 500,000 spectators, will visit the Olympic Park. London 2012 strongly supports the creation of the new standard - they also aim to use fewer natural resources.

Find out more about the new British Standard, BS 8901: 2007 Specification for a sustainable event management system with guidance for use.

Why you are important

An event at your school might seem tiny compared to the Olympics. But there are over 30,000 schools in the UK! Each school holds many events each year: parents' evenings, concerts, sports days and fairs.

We can all make a difference. If every school makes its events a little more sustainable, these small changes will add up. Together, they become a big change for the better.

Your challenge: make one of your school's summer events a sustainable success!

To get started, open or download the Student Guide
(File type: Adobe Acrobat document, File size: 1672kb)