Year 12 & 13 Explore Energy and Sustainability with EDF
Dominique Laure
On 11 December 2024, the Languages Department organised an EDF (Électricité de France) conference on energy and the environment for year 12 and 13 students as part of their programme to raise awareness of energy and environmental issues, as one of the topics in their IAL exams. The aim of this initiative is to better prepare the younger generation for the challenges facing our society in terms of energy transition and sustainability.
An educational and interactive conference
Hosted by an EDF expert, the conference enabled students to discover the many facets of energy, from its production to its consumption. The event was designed to encourage interactivity, with video presentations, workshops and discussions on key issues in the energy sector.
The main aim of the event was to raise students' awareness of environmental issues, while providing them with keys to understanding the innovative technologies used to produce electricity more responsibly. EDF emphasised the importance of the energy transition and the solutions developed to reduce carbon footprints, highlighting concrete projects such as renewable energies (solar, wind and hydro) and advances in new-generation nuclear power.
The importance of the energy transition
Several aspects of the energy transition were discussed during the conference. One of the highlights of the presentation was the explanation of the current climate challenges and the need to rethink the way we produce and consume energy in order to limit our environmental impact. The expert also set out France's objectives for reducing greenhouse gases.
Students were able to understand the importance of renewable energies in this context, in particular solar and wind power, but also the essential role of nuclear power and waste management in the energy transition. EDF highlighted the research efforts being made to make these technologies more efficient and less polluting. The role of young people in the ecological transition.
Pupils were invited to reflect on the actions they can take individually and collectively to help reduce their ecological footprint, such as recycling, reducing their energy consumption and adopting more sustainable modes of transport.
The importance of the energy transition
This EDF conference was a great opportunity to raise awareness and learn more for the students in their final years of secondary school. It gave them a better understanding of the challenges of a successful energy transition and the role they can play in this transformation. EDF, as a major energy player in France, demonstrated its commitment to supporting young people in their awareness of environmental issues and to helping build a more sustainable energy future.
Dominique Laure
French Teacher