Schools are more than places of learning – they are spaces where values and habits for life are formed.If we want a greener Europe, schools must play a central role in fostering environmental awareness, responsibility, and action.UPSPACE believes that by equipping teachers and students with the right skills and experiences, schools can become laboratories for sustainability, where ideas for greener communities are born.
Developing a European curriculum is not easy – every country has its own school system and policies. But this diversity is also a strength. The UPSPACE team is working together to clarify processes, align approaches, and create a common understanding so that the final curriculum will be both flexible and practical. By combining different perspectives, we are confident we can deliver a tool that is useful for teachers across Europe.
Guided by our research and the best practices identified, we have now started developing the UPSPACE curriculum for teachers and students.The curriculum will include modules on sustainable development, efficient use of resources, upcycling, and urban regeneration. It is designed to be interactive, combining classroom learning with practical activities and digital tools. 🎯 Our goal: to give teachers concrete methods and students hands-on experiences that make sustainability part of everyday school life.
This month, we are diving deeper into best practices from across Europe. From national campaigns on recycling to local school initiatives on biodiversity, there are many inspiring examples of how sustainability education is already being put into practice.By analyzing these initiatives, we can see what works, what challenges remain, and how to bring successful ideas into UPSPACE. 💡 These stories remind us that change is possible – and that schools can be powerful drivers of community transformation.
At the beginning of 2025, the UPSPACE project team launched a cross-country study to better understand how sustainable development is being addressed in schools across Europe.The study maps out existing EU and national policies and looks at how they translate into practice in classrooms. This baseline helps us identify where schools are supported – and where gaps remain. 👉 The findings will guide the next steps of UPSPACE: creating future-oriented curricula that empower teachers and students to put sustainability into…
In December, Palermo hosted the inaugural partner meeting of the UPSPACE project—an important milestone marking the formal start of our collaborative efforts towards a more sustainable future. UPSPACE aims to embed green skills into school curricula and promote urban regeneration as a strategy for fostering sustainable communities. This first in-person meeting was an opportunity for partners to connect, align on project objectives, and begin shaping a shared vision. We were pleased to welcome our partners from across Europe, each contributing…
Climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges. In response, Europe is advancing concrete actions aligned with the EU Green Deal and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UPSPACE project supports this transition by promoting the integration of environmental education as a core element of school curricula. Why UPSPACE?UPSPACE is more than an educational initiative—it represents a cultural shift towards sustainability, beginning in the classroom. The project is designed to: Support a cultural transformation: Encouraging…