The highly successful Climate Change Champions schools project is entering its second year with the launch of the 2008/9 revamped programme.

The project was born out of a desire to highlight the role of education in addressing climate change. The Global Action Plan and Norwich Union partnership was an opportunity to focus on how people and communities can take practical action in their everyday lives for a better world. Schools based in the targeted communities of Norwich, York and Perth were invited to join the programme, with the core aim of learning about their personal contribution to climate change and help to reduce their school's carbon footprint around the subjects of energy and waste.

29 schools participated in 2007/8, achieving a combined carbon footprint reduction of 67.4 tonnes of CO2, which is enough to fill 13.5 hot air balloons. They also raised an impressive 4117 environmental pledges from the public - equating to a commitment of a further 19,464 tonnes reduction in CO2.

A celebration ceremony at the House of Commons was attended by winning schools Archbishop of York, Park Grove Primary, York and Stanley Primary, Perth. Awarding prizes were Jim Knight, Schools Minister; Joan Ruddock, Climate Change Minister, Charles Clarke MP for Norwich South and Hugh Bayley MP for York.

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