The Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce was set up in 1993 and now runs a wide range of education and awareness raising projects both national and international.
National Projects:
National Spring Clean - National Spring Clean is An Taisce's premier and Ireland's largest anti-litter campaign. Run throughout the month of April, the campaign involves thousands of volunteers conducting clean-ups around the country.
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) All-Ireland Anti-Litter League - The Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce has been commissioned by the Irish Business Against Litter group to carry out a series of Litter Surveys in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. This "All Ireland" Anti-Litter League involves An Taisce monitoring litter levels in towns representing all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland and 3 in Northern Ireland.
International Projects:
As the national operator of Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) projects in Ireland, An Taisce runs the following International campaigns:
Blue Flag - The International Blue Flag Programme is an ecolabel awarded to beaches and marinas that meet a specific set of criteria concerning environmental information and education, water quality, safety and services and environmental management. In 2008 over 3200 blue flags were awarded in 36 countries throughout Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean. In Ireland the Blue Flag Programme is supported by funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Green-Schools - Known internationally as Eco-Schools, Green Schools is an international environmental education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole school action for the environment.
The aim of Green-Schools is to increase students’ and participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and also in the wider community. Schools that have successfully completed all the elements of the programme are awarded the ‘Green-Flag’.
Over 3,240 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland (>80% of all Irish schools) are currently participating part in the programme and 1,759 schools have been awarded the Green Flag. The Irish Green-Schools programme, operated by An Taisce, is one of the most succesful within the international network.
Young Reporters for the Environment - This is a European-wide environmental education programme developed for secondary schools. Students carry out a journalistic enquiry on a local or international environmental problem and then inform the public of their findings via television, radio, newspapers or exhibitions.
Learning About Forests - Learning about Forests is an international programme that aims to encourage schools, classes and teachers to use forests for educational activities.
Clean Coast Project - The Clean Coast Project is both a programme and an award:
Coastcare - which is largely focused on the establishment of local, community, voluntary groups who would 'adopt' and manage stretches of their local coastline by promoting and supporting safe enjoyable conservation activities.
The Green Coast Award - which recognises beaches of the highest environmental quality, but which is visited and enjoyed for its intrinsic qualities and is where local interest and management maintains a clean environment.
The Clean Coast Project can provide limited funding for groups to enable start-up or project expenses, if necessary.