Workshop: Energy of the future at school - Silesia breathes the green transformation

The initiative is an official EU Green Week Partner Event.

What does a world look like in which energy is generated from wind, the sun, and other renewable sources, and where economic development goes hand in hand with protecting and restoring nature? During the workshop “Energy of the Future at School. Silesia Breathes the Green Transformation,” primary school students will explore these questions through the perspective of “Investment in Nature”, the central theme of this year’s EU Green Week.

The meeting will begin with an engaging presentation showing that the energy transition is not only a technological shift, but above all a long-term investment in natural capital, economic resilience, and quality of life. Students will learn how regions in Poland and across Europe are transforming their economies by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable resource management. Through visual “before and after” examples, participants will see how these investments lead to cleaner environments, lower emissions, and new economic opportunities, including job creation and innovation.

A key element of the workshop will be a discussion on air quality and its direct links to economic decisions. Students will discover how energy choices influence public health, urban development, and the costs borne by societies. This will highlight that clean air is not only an environmental goal but also a measurable economic benefit, reducing healthcare costs and increasing productivity and quality of life.

Participants will also be introduced to new professions emerging from the green transition, such as renewable energy engineers, environmental data analysts, and designers of sustainable technologies. This demonstrates that investing in nature is also an investment in future skills and human capital, essential for building a competitive, forward-looking economy.

The second part of the event will take the form of an interactive competition. In the large-format board game “Clean Energy,” students will take on the role of decision-makers responsible for planning the region’s energy future. By making strategic investment choices between different energy sources and solutions, they will learn how to balance environmental protection with economic development. The game will clearly show that decisions supporting nature-positive investments lead to better long-term economic and environmental outcomes.

To further strengthen the link with the Green Week theme, the workshop will include a short simulation exercise comparing different development scenarios, from fossil fuel-based models to renewable, resource-efficient systems. Students will observe how these choices affect emissions, resource use, and economic stability, understanding that investing in nature delivers tangible returns over time.

The workshop demonstrates that the green transition is not only a necessity but also a major development opportunity. It shows that a modern economy can be built on solutions inspired by nature, efficient use of resources, and innovation, bringing measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits.

By engaging young participants, the event contributes to building awareness, knowledge, and competencies that support long-term change. It proves that education is a key investment in a nature-positive economy, where environmental protection and economic growth reinforce each other.

The event is implemented as part of the project “Silesia. Blue Sky Restored”.