What if climate education didn’t start with fear, but with questions, stories, and a sense of possibility?
That’s the question Harry Waters has been answering for over a decade. As the founder of Renewable English, Harry doesn’t just teach sustainability. He helps young people find their voice in it.
Through workshops, teacher training, and a growing library of free materials, Harry’s work bridges the often-disconnected worlds of environmentalism and language learning. But at its heart, Renewable English is about something deeper: connection.
Connection to each other, to the planet, and to the idea that every learner, regardless of age, country, or curriculum, deserves a chance to be part of the solution.
It wasn’t always obvious this would be the path. Harry’s early life was marked by activism, travel, and later, a personal health crisis that forced him to reconsider everything. But the turning point came not from politics, or even protest. It came in a classroom in Spain, watching students colour in pictures of Earth Day slogans, unsure what any of it meant.
“We were teaching about climate change,” he remembers, “but the kids didn’t understand the words – and we weren’t giving them anything they could actually do.”
So he started something new. Something that felt obvious, once you said it out loud: that language is power. And that if young people are going to change the world, they need the words and the confidence to name what matters.
Today, Renewable English reaches students from Devon to Delhi. But Harry is still doing what he started with: listening to young people, learning alongside them, and helping them turn uncertainty into action.
The Spark
Harry has always had a strong sense of justice. He remembers marching as a child and protesting against library closures with his mum. He later threw himself into activism as a young adult. But activism alone wasn’t enough. The real shift came after a moment of personal reckoning.
At just 26, Harry was diagnosed with leukemia. The news forced him to slow down, to step away from the fast pace of teaching and travel, and to sit with some hard questions.
“I had to ask myself – what am I doing with my time? Am I proud of how I’m spending it?”
In the months of recovery that followed, he began weaving climate topics into his English lessons. Not just vocabulary about pollution or recycling, but deeper conversations – how does climate change affect your community? What changes can you make? How do you talk about hope?
Then came the pandemic. In the stillness of lockdown, Harry stopped waiting for perfect conditions. He started Renewable English with a simple aim: to create open-access climate education that meets people where they are – especially young people.
He began recording video lessons. Offering free online resources. Running workshops. Slowly, a new community began to take shape – one that saw language as a tool not just for learning, but for leading.
The Model
Harry is cautious to label Renewable English as a business in the traditional sense. Yes, it pays the bills, but it’s also a platform, a philosophy, and a practice – all built around the idea that language can unlock climate action.
Harry runs the project solo, but collaborates widely. His work adapts to fit the context – whether that’s a group of teenage students in India, a room full of European teachers, or a publisher looking to create more meaningful educational content.
Here’s how it works:
- Teacher Training
Multi-week programmes for educators who want to integrate climate and sustainability topics into their English lessons. These courses focus on pedagogy, language, and emotional intelligence – helping teachers lead difficult conversations with care. - Student Workshops
One-off or recurring sessions with young people, usually hosted by schools. These workshops focus on solutions, not doom – empowering students to name problems, explore alternatives, and take realistic, age-appropriate action. - Content Creation
Harry develops curriculum-aligned materials for schools and publishers – videos, lesson plans, resource packs. All designed to be practical, adaptable, and rooted in real-world relevance.
There are guiding principles that shape everything:
- Free where it needs to be – Many resources are freely available online, ensuring accessibility regardless of funding.
- Flexible and responsive – Sessions are always tailored to the school, the age group, and the cultural context.
- No greenwashing – Harry turns down projects that don’t align with his values, even if the money’s good.
“I never wanted to just sell content,” he explains. “This is about relationships – with students, with teachers, with the planet.”
“I had to ask myself - what am I doing with my time? Am I proud of how I’m spending it?”
– Harry Waters, Renewable English
The Impact
For Harry, impact is never just a number. It’s the ripple effect you don’t always see – a shift in confidence, a change in how someone speaks about the world, a sense that they can do something, however small. Or a solution that a student may come up with today, that grows into being a funded and viable solution in 10-15-20 years from now.
That said, the outcomes of Renewable English are deeply tangible.
- In Turkey, a single workshop sparked a year-long cascade of student projects: a solar-powered car, an upcycled fashion line, a model city wired with light-sensitive tech. Every piece was presented in English – to over 500 peers. “They weren’t just learning vocabulary,” Harry says. “They were finding their voice.”
- In India, after a series of online sessions, one school launched Saturdays for Solutions – a student-led initiative to reduce waste, including a ‘pen hospital’ that repairs broken stationery instead of throwing it away.
- In Spain, one group of 12-year-olds came up with a neighbourhood campaign to reduce single-use plastics – and convinced their school canteen to switch suppliers.
Each workshop is different. Some open with poetry, others with protest posters or climate data. But the thread that runs through them all is agency. Students are not passive recipients of dire news. They are participants in change.
And Harry doesn’t shy away from complexity. In one school, seven-year-olds proposed circular economies. In another, teenagers pushed back against the idea of giving up meat. “That’s the work,” he says. “It’s not about making kids perfect environmentalists. It’s about making space for them to think, reflect, and act.”
Even in sessions where the results aren’t immediate, the seeds are planted. And when young people feel heard, something powerful begins to grow.
The Marketing
Harry’s business doesn’t rely on ads, algorithms, or automated funnels or overly complex marketing. Its growth has come from trust – built slowly, through conversation, collaboration, and showing up with integrity.
Most of Harry’s work comes through:
- Word of mouth
Schools recommend him to other schools. Teachers share his resources with their networks. Former collaborators bring him into new projects. - Teacher communities
Online spaces, especially in the English Language Teaching (ELT) world, have become informal ecosystems for referrals, feedback, and shared practice. - LinkedIn presence
Harry uses the platform to share reflections, student stories, and resources – offering value without pushing a sale. It’s helped build visibility and credibility without needing a marketing budget. - Speaking at conferences
Events like Green ELT and sustainability in education forums have brought Renewable English into wider professional circles, particularly among climate-conscious educators.
The tone is always consistent – honest, hopeful, and unbranded. There are no inflated claims or ‘disruptive’ slogans. Just clear, generous work.
“People connect to the story,” Harry says. “Not the logo. Not the sales pitch. They see that it’s real.”
This quiet approach has created something that’s both rare and powerful: a brand that feels human.
The Finances
Renewable English runs as a lean, values-first business. It’s just Harry – no staff, no office, no fixed costs. That simplicity gives him freedom, but it also means financial stability can be precarious.
Income comes from a blend of:
- School workshops
These vary in scope and pricing, depending on the location, duration, and budget of the school. Some are fully funded, others heavily discounted or run voluntarily. - Teacher training courses
Multi-week programmes for educators, often delivered online. These bring in consistent income when fully booked, especially through partnerships with organisations or institutions. - Content commissions
Paid work for publishers, NGOs, and educational platforms. Harry creates lesson plans, video materials, and resource packs aligned with sustainability goals. - Occasional grant support
Though not a core focus, some initiatives have received small pots of funding from education or climate-focused charities.
It’s not always easy.
“2023 was my best year financially,” he says. “But 2024’s been hard. Global budgets have shifted. Schools are stretched. And the election in the US is having knock-on effects I didn’t expect.”
Still, Harry has stayed debt-free. He hasn’t chased growth for growth’s sake. And most importantly, he’s remained independent – able to turn down projects that don’t align with his ethics.
“I’ve walked away from well-paid jobs that didn’t feel right. It’s terrifying sometimes. But I know I wouldn’t be proud of the work if I hadn’t.”
What’s sustained him is belief – in the mission, the impact, and the long game. This isn’t a fast-growth tech company. It’s a slow, steady practice of showing up for the next conversation, the next classroom, the next opportunity to help someone feel empowered.
The Vision
Harry isn’t building an empire. He’s building something more organic – a movement of educators, students, and communities who see language and climate action as deeply connected.
His vision for Renewable English is not to scale in the conventional sense, but to replicate with integrity. That means growing its reach without losing its soul.
In the years ahead, he hopes to:
- Train more facilitators
Develop a network of aligned educators who can deliver Renewable English workshops in their own regions – maintaining the ethos, while localising the content. - Build an online platform
Create a digital home for Renewable English – a place where teachers can access resources, swap ideas, and connect across borders. - Develop regular teacher community spaces
Monthly meetups or drop-ins, where educators can explore climate education challenges, share classroom wins, and support each other. - Reach more marginalised schools
Focus on students and teachers who are often left out of sustainability conversations – rural communities, underfunded schools, places with fewer resources but deep wisdom. - Strengthen impact tracking
Not to tick boxes, but to better understand what’s working – and why. More feedback loops, more stories, more learning.
“I want Renewable English to keep growing,” Harry says, “but I want it to grow slowly, wisely, and with the right people.”
He talks about it like a forest – not a factory. Something that can spread roots underground, connect ecosystems, and support different kinds of growth over time.
“I want Renewable English to keep growing, but I want it to grow slowly, wisely, and with the right people.”
– Harry Waters, Renewable English
The Challenges
Running a purpose-led solo business is never straightforward – and Harry is honest about that.
The challenges come in waves, and they’re not just logistical. They’re emotional, ethical, and existential.
Some of the biggest ones include:
- Unpredictable income
Without guaranteed contracts or recurring revenue, Harry’s financial stability depends on a constant flow of bookings and commissions. A cancelled project or a slow month can have real consequences. - Balancing energy and output
As a solo founder, Harry does everything – delivery, admin, marketing, finance, and future planning. It’s rewarding, but exhausting. And burnout is always lurking. - Student climate guilt
In some schools, particularly among older students, conversations about climate change quickly turn to despair or shame. “They’ve been made to feel it’s all their fault,” he says. “Undoing that takes time.” - Misunderstandings around sustainability
Not every school understands what Harry offers – or why it matters. Some expect a one-off ‘green day’ with quick fixes. Others assume it’s just about carbon or recycling. - Staying true to values under pressure
There have been moments when a tempting offer came in from a company that didn’t align with his ethics. Saying no can be scary – especially when money is tight. - The loneliness of the mission
Working alone, especially on emotionally heavy topics, can feel isolating. Harry has built a support network over time – but admits there are days when doubt creeps in.
Still, he remains grounded.
“I’ve chosen this path,” he says. “It’s hard, yes. But it’s mine. And I get to do it on my terms.”
The Mindset
Harry’s approach isn’t built on hustle or heroics. It’s built on presence – and a quiet, unwavering commitment to keep going.
He often describes his work as holding space – for discomfort, for hope, for learning that doesn’t always have neat answers. That requires humility. And trust.
There are a few principles he returns to, especially on hard days:
- Start where you are
Whether it’s a group of Year 3 students or a teacher who’s never spoken about climate before – begin with what’s already there. Then build, gently. - Consistency over perfection
Harry doesn’t believe in flawless delivery. He believes in showing up – again and again – with openness, care, and a willingness to learn alongside others. - Joy as resistance
Amidst the weight of the climate crisis, he brings humour, music, and lightness into the classroom. “You can hold the seriousness and still make it joyful,” he says. - Language matters
Words shape how we see the world. So Harry is deliberate about framing – choosing inclusive, empowering language that invites people in, not pushes them out. - Care as a strategy
He doesn’t just teach it. He models it. Whether it’s pausing a session to check in with a distressed student, or making sure teachers feel resourced before delivering a difficult topic – care is part of the method.
“This work can’t be rushed,” he says. “It needs to be relational. Thoughtful. Human.”
In a sector often dominated by metrics and urgency, Harry’s mindset is refreshingly different. It’s not about saving the world. It’s about staying rooted, doing what you can, and trusting that it matters.
The Wisdom
Harry’s journey has been shaped by trial, reflection, and deep listening. His advice isn’t about quick wins or easy answers – it’s about what holds over time.
Here are five grounded lessons he offers to others building values-led work:
- Find your community
“You can’t do this alone. Whether it’s a WhatsApp group or a network of fellow educators – you need people who get it.” - Don’t work for exposure
It’s tempting to say yes to unpaid gigs that promise visibility. But Harry has learned to draw clear boundaries. “If someone values your work, they’ll pay for it.” - Make your message consistent
Don’t try to cover everything. Pick a core story – and keep returning to it. Over time, it becomes your compass, your credibility, and your brand. - Trust that young people are ready
Students are more capable, creative, and resilient than we often assume. “They just need space to speak. And to be taken seriously.” - Keep showing up
Even when it’s quiet. Even when no one clicks ‘like’. Even when a workshop doesn’t land. “Consistency is what builds impact,” he says. “Not perfection.”
Try This
Inspired by Harry’s approach? Here are five practical, low-cost actions you can take – starting now – to bring more purpose and possibility into your own business or classroom.
- Design a mini-series of climate and language lessons
Pick a topic that resonates locally – food, waste, transport – and build three simple lessons around it. Make space for questions, creativity, and action. - Start with what students already do
Begin any session by asking: “What do you already do to help the planet?” It shifts the energy from guilt to agency – and surfaces stories you might not expect. - Offer something for free
Whether it’s a worksheet, a guide, or a short video – create one resource that others can use, no strings attached. Make it useful, beautiful, and shareable. - Build a peer group
Find two or three others who share your values and set up a regular check-in. Talk about wins, wobbles, and what you’re learning. - Share one student story a week on LinkedIn
Keep it short, honest, and focused on the change you witnessed. Invite others to comment with their own examples. Over time, this builds visibility and trust.
We love sharing stories of thoughtful businesses building a better future. If this one inspired you, why not pass it on? And if you have your own good growth story – or know someone whose journey we should tell – we’d love to hear from you.