",,, it is more important than ever that climate change is taught in classrooms. “The time is now to include climate education as a key climate risk mitigation strategy — along with energy transformation, land uses and water — and to make climate education a mandatory part of the national curriculum,” said Radhika Iyengar of the Columbia Climate School’s Center for Sustainable Development.
Katharine Hayhoe says:
"Organizations like This Is Planet Ed, which is pushing for collective action on climate change in children’s media, early childhood, K-12 education, and higher education, will be crucial going forward. That’s why I co-chair their climate task force and helped craft the four simple messages their materials focus on: (1) Earth is our home, (2) it’s getting hotter because of us, (3) climate is changing now and it’s impacting us, and (4) together, we can make the changes we need for a brighter future.
Hot classrooms are part of climate change, when students in older buildings have no air conditioning, and can be removed or swelter in these conditions and are not able to learn.
"Despite the risks climate change poses to students, in the U.S. some states are moving in the wrong direction. In Florida, the state Department of Education has approved using climate denial videos from PragerU, a well-known font of disinformation, in the state’s public schools. (Curious about these videos? In this article, Kristina Dahl, principal climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, fact-checks one of them.) Then, this past May, Florida’s Governor DeSantis signed a bill that removes most mentions of climate change from state law. (That bill also prioritizes natural gas use and bans offshore wind installations.) Now, state education officials are reaching out to textbook companies asking them to remove references to climate change.
What you can do...
"Public schools have a big climate footprint. In the US alone, they operate nearly half a million buses and serve some 7 billion meals to students each year.
There are many ways schools can cut their carbon footprint and save money, from installing solar panels on their campuses to switching to heat pumps from gas and oil furnaces. But the majority of school districts still lack the very first step - a climate action plan.
How can you help? Raise your voice! Attend your local school board meeting and recommend action. Talk to school leaders about the importance of addressing climate change. Need talking points? We’ve got a lot of them over at Science Moms!
Encourage students to raise the issue of climate change in school, and have their classmates write letters to the school board about the need to act. The WWF-UK has developed climate change resources for secondary school students and teachers that help educate kids and empower them to take action. You can find them here.
Thanks Katharine Hayhoe in Talking Climate newsletter!
Having worked in a school I know how difficult it is to get these matters taken seriously. We once had a meeting about it and had 100% agreement among staff that action must be taken. The next evening I went around to do the security checks and found lights, heating and computers left switched on in almost every room!
ReplyDeleteMaking new habits is difficult. Just ask those of us who take our own bags into grocery stores!
DeleteI would think climate change could be added to science classes.
ReplyDeleteI remember my old school did not have any air conditioning, we had to open windows and turn fans on. Take care, enjoy your day!
That's a good place to learn about climate change. But our ability to make a difference might be covered also in Social Studies/Civics classes.
DeleteIn my 30 years of teaching, I never had an airconditioned classroom. Fortunately, there weren't too many boiling days: only a few at the beginning and end of the school year in June and September.
ReplyDeleteThere's a Canadian point of view! And perhaps the schools are now airconditioned in your area? Interesting when I remember the old school buildings in St. Louis without airconditioning...it's really hot there in September. Big old windows were opened, but we knew what it was to sweat. But that was the 50s. By the 60s I was in new buildings with lots of glass and I'm pretty sure airconditioning was part of the package. However, none at my house! Fans, lots of fans!
Delete...climate change will continue to be haux with Trump!
ReplyDeleteEverything in his life is hauxing. If he ever told the truth he'd probably collapse. Just wishful thinking.
DeleteClimate change should be part of a school's curriculum.
DeleteIt's becoming more important for our youth, since they will have to deal with it.
DeleteGood points. Kids seriously need to learn about their place in and effect on the environment.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of how angry Greta Thunberg was that adults weren't doing anything about climate change, back when she was 15!
DeleteHi Barbara, Educating the children about climate change/global warming is critical but there are too many climate change deniers and too many people who just don't care about much except and who don't advocate for much of anything. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteThat is always going to be a fact. But many young people are interested in climate change. And offering them opportunities while in school to make a difference, is what education is all about, I think.
DeleteThank You!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of young people working against climate change. I have faith.
ReplyDelete