Leading article: Going green

Schools must become more environmentally friendly by 2020, reduce pollution and encourage pupils to walk or cycle from home, the Government announced this week. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education, called for schools to reduce water and energy use, urging them to lead the way with solar panels and wind-turbine technology. School meals should be made on site to cut transport use, and head teachers should act as "ethical purchasers".

This is a welcome announcement, which should do a great deal to change attitudes both in schools and beyond. Children are often interested in environmental issues and this is an ideal way to harness that interest to bring about lasting change.