It seems clichéd to say that climate change is the biggest challenge of our time. With a steady stream of bad news stories, it can often seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, many of those working in the field are much more positive about our ability to mitigate for, and eventually reverse our effects on, the climate.
In May, we held our first Climate Change Teacher Conference. The event took place over four evenings and involved talks from climate researchers.
After each talk, I asked each speaker a simple question: “Do you feel positively or negatively about the future of our climate?” Every one of the researchers replied that they were positive. Ahead of the COP26 summit in November, there is hope that we will see strong commitment and action from the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
The other reason for optimism is the passion of young people to be part of the solution to this issue. The challenge presented by climate change won’t be solved in one or even five years. It will take a number of generations to truly ‘solve’, and the researchers who may have the biggest impact are in education at this time.
A recent article from the i newspaper stated that 70 % of UK teachers said they have not been properly trained to teach about climate change. For teachers to effectively engage students with climate change, they need confidence in tackling the subject and an understanding of how it links to the curriculum. As part of efforts to do this, the Department of Education has released new climate education packs.
STEM Learning has also established the Climate Change Educational Partnership, which launched in April this year. The partnership brings together organisations from across the education and climate research sectors, including the Environment Agency, European and UK Space Agencies, MetOffice, UK Research and Innovation, Royal Geographical Society, Royal Meteorological Society and Natural Environment Research Council, to support teachers to deliver inspiring and impactful climate-change-related lessons and activities. It aims to increase students’ understanding of the science and implications of climate change by enhancing educators’ subject knowledge and understanding so that lessons are based on scientific evidence. Support for teachers includes training, lesson activities, access to volunteers, support for enrichment days, plus challenges and competitions.
In the coming months, we will be supporting teachers and young people with new content and opportunities to learn and engage with climate change.
If you’d like to know more about or to support the partnership, please contact climate@stem.org.uk or join in the conversation in the STEM Community. We’d also love to hear from you about what support you’d find useful – so please do get in touch.