About Project Genie
Aim
Our mission: to provide materials for teachers to empower children to achieve rapid, meaningful and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Why?
Climate change is a serious threat
Human-driven climate change is accepted by every major national scientific body worldwide and recognised as an immediate and grave threat. Evidence suggests that we need to reduce CO2 emissions by between 80% and 90% cent before today's KS2/3 pupils reach middle age. Furthermore, urgent reductions are needed in the coming five years or less. What we do now will determine the rate of atmospheric temperature rise and the severity of climate change.
The role of children
Children are aware of the threat of climate change. A national survey by energy company e.on in Autumn 2007 showed that 20% of children are concerned about climate change compared to 3% being worried about street violence. They are right to be concerned: it is today's children who will face the consequences of inaction.
Project Genie aims to let children take control of their future. Genie equips them with the knowledge and skills to help schools, families and communities work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The role of children
The behaviour of adults is often hard to change. Today's 'have now' culture - where life-style decisions are frequently based on short-term gratification - offers little thought to long-term consequences. Children, however, can be much more easily taught to think of the long-term effects their decisions may have and can positively influence their parents and other adults around them as a result.
Children are aware of the threat of climate change. A national survey by energy company e.on in Autumn 2007 showed that 20% of children are concerned about climate change compared to 3% being worried about street violence. They are right to be concerned: it is today's children who will face the consequences of inaction.
The Origins of Project Genie
The Genie in the Bottle was written by Hugh Montgomery, a medical Professor, who then developed Project Genie as a mechanism for reducing carbon emissions, using techniques for changing behaviour which are used in healthcare (eg, to get people to eat more fruit & veg, to exercise more).
How does Project Genie work?
1. Read or watch The Genie in the Bottle
A beautifully illustrated / animated story for the 7-11 age group which forms the basis for the lesson plans produced by Project Genie. It tells the simple story of climate change: how fossil fuels were laid down, how humans have changed the environment, how carbon is affecting the atmosphere and therefore how it might affect our future on this planet. The story is supported by "reality checks" that give facts about what is happening. The book also suggests actions on how to slow, stop and solve some of the issues caused by climate change.
2. Learn the scientific facts about climate change
Lessons plans are aimed at KS 2/3, and each lesson has links to subject areas of the National Curriculum. The lesson plans are designed to ensure that all children, regardless of learning style or intellectual ability, have equal access to the most important issue of their lives - their future and their safety on the planet.
3. Learn how to monitor and reduce your carbon emissions
Introduction to a smart-metering device. Children learn ways to reduce the amount of electricity they use in their schools and at home, and how this also saves money. Children can instantly see that their actions make a difference to energy used by reading measurements from the device, and tracks their actions over time.
Exploring and rethinking current energy use
Children are encouraged to discuss energy usage in their communities, country, and globally, and then explore ways in which people could live a lower-carbon lifestyle now and in the future.
5. Advocate
By now, children have the knowledge and the power to make rapid, measurable and sustained reductions in carbon emissions. Genie children act as advocates, educating those around them about climate change and ways to live a sustainable, low-carbon lifestyle.
So far...
Project Genie has now been piloted in over 140 Schools, reaching 136,000 people, and with energy savings of approximately 30%. In one year, this would represent: a reduction in CO2 of 4,200 tonnes, and £270, 000 saved.
It has support from the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, various MPs, individuals, lots of schools and importantly lots of children. It has partnerships with Microsoft, the Met Office, DECC, DSCF, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, National Grid, EDF, BT, Sky Broadcasting, The UCL Environment Institute, and the Greater London Authority.
