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A Global Movement for Green Schools

PHILADELPHIA — The Center for Green Schools, an organization of the U.S. Green Building Council, has announced the 29 founding members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools (GCGS).
Announced at the 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia, the founding members of the GCGS have committed to establishing national coalitions for green, healthy and sustainable schools in their respective countries.
“As members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools, we are united in our common pursuit of healthy, safe, resource-efficient schools that educate sustainability natives,” said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools. “But what inspires us and keeps us humble is seeing how much we have to learn from one another. Our approaches to greening schools may look very different, but what we all desire is to give our children every possible opportunity to succeed.”
The members of the coalition will facilitate the sharing of best practices, resources and case studies while also introducing programs, initiatives and campaigns that can be shared throughout the network. Due to the wide variety of educational settings throughout the nations, the coalition has identified three pillars to define a green school: minimize environmental impact, optimize human health and performance, and foster a generation of environmentally literate students.
“The Global Coalition for Green Schools is a unique forum to inspire national action that ensures our schools are healthy, safe and sustainable learning environments,” said Jane Henley, CEO of the World Green Building Council. “We know that schools are at the center of life in many communities. By focusing on schools and all related aspects of education, GBCs now have a chance that’s of paramount importance to work with one another toward our common goal of green schools for all within a generation.”
The founding members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools include: Argentina GBC, GBC Australia, Botswana GBC, GBC Brasil, Canada GBC, Chile GBC, China GBC, Colombia GBC, Croatia GBC, Egypt GBC, Emirates GBC, Global Communities, GBC Ghana, Hong Kong GBC, Indian GBC, GBC Italia, Israel GBC, Jordan GBC, Kenya GBC, Mauritius GBC, Namibia GBC, Peru GBC, Qatar GBC, Romania GBC, Singapore GBC, GBC Slovenia, SUMe, Turkish GBC and USGBC.