Thousands of schoolchildren across England and Wales are being given the chance to tackle climate change in the classroom thanks to a unique partnership between Toyota and the environmental charity Groundwork.

The Eco-Schools programme, backed with funding by Toyota, will help Groundwork involve schoolchildren in the process of monitoring, action planning and decision-making in the sustainable development of their school by forming an action team with local adults to lessen its impact on the environment.

By advising on ways the school can save energy and water, reduce waste and implement recycling schemes the youngsters will be encouraging action that will benefit their school by increasing its environmental performance and ability to lower its costs.

The global significance of local actions is also highlighted as part of the programme with schoolchildren from the UK, Poland and Czech Republic exchanging ideas on the issue with each other.

Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork's chief executive, said, "Young people will be affected by climate change more than any other group but are given few opportunities to feed into any local decision-making processes.

"By encouraging schoolchildren to consider what changes need to be made to make their school a more stimulating and environmentally sustainable place to learn they also learn about sustainable development and gain an increased sense of responsibility for the school and the local and global environment."