The Waldorf Climate Balance Fund

Screenshot of the website freunde-waldorf.de/climate-balance

It’s easy to get involved: On the website, you can calculate your carbon footprint and view three current climate projects to which your donation will be directed. As proof, all participants receive a personalized climate certificate showing the contribution they have made and which projects are being supported. Institutions can also become climate partners. They calculate their CO₂ emissions, offset unavoidable emissions, and receive a climate certificate as well as a partner seal for their communications. This way, climate protection can become part of everyday life—visible, binding, and effective.

Just one year after the founding of the first Waldorf school, Rudolf Steiner spoke of the need for a World School Association: to make free education possible worldwide—through the responsibility, cooperation, and active participation of people and organizations, not through government mandates. Essential to this are support and solidarity-based financial flows across national borders. The Friends of Waldorf Education have been fulfilling this mission for 50 years in the Waldorf sector worldwide. During this time, many millions of euros have been channeled between supporters and educational initiatives from all regions of the world. The Waldorf Climate Balance Fund builds on this mission and combines climate responsibility with global educational solidarity.

The idea for this project came from Christoph Dörsch, the executive director of the Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen (German Association of Independent Waldorf Schools). In the past, he has offset his air travel through platforms like atmosfair.de and came up with the idea that the Waldorf community in Germany could create its own platform. «Of course, it would be best if no CO₂ emissions were produced at all, but that’s not always possible. Many people feel a sense of responsibility and donate to climate projects after personal or business trips. If such voluntary offset payments can support Waldorf institutions, it’s a win-win for both sides», says Dörsch. This could also be done, for example, for car trips to the Waldorf school. The schools themselves could also offset their daily CO₂ emissions through this portal.

Money donated through the Waldorf Climate Balance Fund goes toward projects run by Waldorf initiatives around the world, such as solar power systems, water treatment, and school gardens. 

Example: Tanzania – Solar Energy for the Waldorf School

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Hekima Waldorf School faces the daily consequences of an unstable electricity and water supply. Overheated classrooms, fans that won’t work, and a lack of clean water make everyday school life considerably more difficult. The first climate project offers a concrete solution to these challenges. Plans include a solar power system and water tanks to ensure a reliable supply of energy and water. All current climate projects are presented on the website.

Background and inspiration

The campaign for the Waldorf Climate Balance Fund is inspired by two key contributions to a Goethean-inspired future ecology within the climate debate. In his book Vom Leben unserer Erde – Eine Liebeserklärung an unseren Heimatplaneten (The Life of Our Earth: A Declaration of Love for Our Home Planet), Albrecht Schad describes the Earth as a living organism—as a sensitive, self-regulating, and equilibrium-seeking biotope. This way of thinking is integrated into the Waldorf curriculum in an interdisciplinary and age-appropriate manner. In his book Klimapsychologie – atmosphärisches Bewusstsein als Weg aus der Klimakrise (Climate Psychology: Atmospheric Consciousness as a Way Out of the Climate Crisis), Stefan Ruf advocates for a new nature-culture partnership: a loving, responsible relationship between humanity and its home planet, as well as with its own cultural achievements—from agriculture and the economy to global coexistence. This is precisely where one of the original strengths of Waldorf education lies: it combines insight, relationship, and active engagement.

The website waldorfschule-bne.de highlights how Waldorf schools can contribute to achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as a platform for discussing how Waldorf education shapes socio-ecological change. Waldorf schools can use the site to showcase their teaching practices related to the individual Sustainable Development Goals and connect with a growing network.

​The Waldorf Climate Balance Fund builds on the theories of future ecology and the schools’ commitment to ESD by practically linking climate responsibility and education and making a new nature-culture partnership tangible—as a conscious, responsible relationship between humanity and the Earth, and with regard to humanity’s cultural responsibilities.

With this new campaign, the Friends of Waldorf Education are also deepening their internal commitment to environmental responsibility. The International Volunteer Services department, which sends and supports over 700 volunteers worldwide each year, is actively participating in efforts to offset the unavoidable flight emissions resulting from international volunteer work. The Friends invite you to become part of this global offset project. Act out of love—for people and the planet!