Consolation prize winners – Schools for Future

Many different entries were submitted to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's educational competition “Schools for Future – Your ecological footprint counts”. We have now listed the winners of first to third place and given each group its own page. However, we also want to give the other very good and meaningful entries the attention they deserve, so we are dedicating a page to them too. Because climate change matters so much to us, there can never be too many contributions and solutions presented. Every entry provides new ideas and food for thought.

Do you think there is enough water? Think again! The year 8 group at Voltaire Gesamtschule in Brandenburg put together a video about the problem of water shortage. The video presents a range of facts in bullet-point form. The students first address the worldwide effects of climate change on the water supply. Causes such as inadequate infrastructure or low rainfall contribute to falling groundwater levels and areas drying out. Other important points for the group are obtaining drinking water from the oceans and water pollution. It is striking that the political perspective is included as well. Suggested ways in which private households can help round off the video.

I want to ride my bicycle! Upper secondary students from Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium in Berlin entered the competition with a video. It looks at the CO2 emissions produced annually in Berlin and Germany. The group appeals to residents to make everyday journeys by bicycle instead of by car.

Biodiversity – Logos for species diversity A year 9 class at Willy-Brandt-Gesamtschule created a very artistic entry. They designed various logos about species diversity and biodiversity. The aim is to reach people with very little text and encourage them to think. The loss of many species and of biodiversity deeply moved the students. They therefore decided to design appealing logos that could potentially be exhibited and displayed in public. The class also wants to start an upcycling project to support species conservation and climate neutrality.

Transportation and logistics of the future Two boys from class 7l designed a brochure on transportation and logistics. They compared the present situation and offered insights into future developments. Road traffic, air travel and shipping were all included. Artificial intelligence and the use of robots are becoming increasingly relevant in relation to climate change.

Pollution of the world's oceans by cruise ships Another group from 7l examined pollution and CO2 emissions from cruise ships in depth. Backed by data, the girls show how harmful cruise ships are and how dangerous they can be for marine life and even life on land.

Our project opposes factory farming In a video, two girls from 7l explain to the camera the problems and scale of factory farming. They also address the gases released into the environment. To give viewers a way to stop supporting factory farming, the girls prepare a vegan burger. The group also created an Instagram account (@wir_veraendern_die_welt2021) to present their project.

Factory farming – Consequences for the environment and for us We received yet another entry from class 7l: a PowerPoint presentation that also focuses on factory farming. The three girls use facts to explain how much CO2 factory farming produces. A challenge showed them that giving up meat or other animal products is not so easy. To motivate others, they introduced a variety of substitute products and each presented one of their favorite vegan or vegetarian meals.

My Frankfurt 2040 Otto-Hahn-Schule in Frankfurt sent us an entry that is not quite typical of today's younger generation: a poem addressed to and about the city of Frankfurt. A drawing shows the city as the group would like it to be.

Why us?! Another video came from lower secondary students at Freie Montessorischule Westerwald. The students explain briefly and clearly what climate change is, what causes it, what effects it has, and what we as a population can do to help our Earth.

Geo1 instead of CO2 Upper secondary students at Kolleg St. Sebastian in Stegen organized a school-wide cycling campaign under the motto “drive and reduce”, together with an engaging project video. Their project aims to raise the school community's awareness of sustainable mobility and encourage alternative means of transport. They created a website to collect all the data, giving everyone involved a direct view of the impact of their actions.

Making a difference together – Taking on climate change! The year 12 GK class submitted a short but very powerful video. Through images accompanied by music, the group shows the effects and causes of climate change. They address several topics, including factory farming, deforestation and CO2 emissions.

Save the earth – Everyone can do something Upper secondary students at Berufskolleg Berliner Platz des HSK in Arnsberg sent us a poster entry. It directly addresses consumers and readers. The group selected and presented four major causes of climate change. The second page shows suggested solutions for each cause.

It’s OKAY not to know, but it’s not OKAY not to TRY! “CO2 is in the air.” With this phrase, year 11 draws attention to one of its posters. The group uses a striking contrast to show what the world looks like now and why. The second poster shows what the world could look like if people took action against climate change.

Community radio program: Sustainable living – A climate-neutral city The radio club submitted an entry that few people had expected. They created a complete community radio program that was broadcast and ran for almost an hour. With plenty of variety between music requests, facts about the climate crisis and informative interviews, the participants produced an entertaining program that held listeners' attention.

“Climate in practice” – DIY tutorials for sustainable products Class 8c created a YouTube video showing what you can do to save CO2. The group presents DIY (do-it-yourself) tutorials, for example showing how to make your own soap for use at home.

Since all the participants' entries were so impressive and detailed, we at Merus decided that we could not award prizes only to those in the top places. Every school that submitted entries therefore received a small cash prize from us. They can divide it among the classes or invest it in projects that help stop climate change.

We thank all the students and teachers for their wide-ranging participation in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's school competition. We also hope that the entries have reached, and will continue to reach, as many people as possible, and that participants will stick with some of the changes they have made in their everyday lives.

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