How to Teach About Climate Change?

Education on climate change has long been a pressing issue. In previous articles, we have discussed the need for environmental education and teacher programs that include ecology topics in the curriculum. According to the United Nations, education is a critical factor in the strategy to mitigate environmental impact.

The reason is that education can motivate people to develop better customs or behaviors and make informed decisions. Students can learn about urgent matters such as global warming or pollution in the classroom. They become enabled to implement actions and know how to do it. Through knowledge, they become part of an effective solution. When we understand how to name and manage environmental issues, the fear and threat we feel because of them diminishes. One recent study shows that if only 16% of students in middle- or high-income countries received environmental education, we could reduce carbon production by 19 gigatons by 2050.

What does this number mean? How can we put it in context to explain the environmental impact? This measure represents one trillion metric tons. One gigaton of ice, for example, would cover Central Park in New York and stand 341 meters high. Now imagine that this amount of carbon emissions will no longer be in the environment. Let’s discuss the benefits of not having these emissions anymore. These data, statistics, and interpretations are the basis for a child-friendly environmental education.

An approach that emphasizes the positive benefits and impact of being environmentally conscious can achieve more in the long run than a perspective based on warnings and fears. People can tire of being scared but not be afraid to be involved and interested in an issue that can benefit them. What didactic resources do teachers have to build the backbone of an ecological didactic? Various State and non-governmental organizations have resources for this purpose.

Freely accessible resources for environmental education

The Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge offers a compendium of resources of all kinds to educate about ecological awareness. These include the complete Kioto Educa program with theoretical foundations and methodology to raise awareness about the need for schools to join the environmental effort. It provides information for institutions to reduce emissions and share activities with their students, who can organize a “Climate Festival.”

The Didactic Guide of Environmental Education of the Junta de Andalucía offers a clear idea of the critical concepts to be taught in an environmental didactic program and solid notions about the contents and conversations that belong to each educational level from early childhood to 18 years.

For English-speaking readers, the ecological counseling blog One Home gathered in one place several resources to learn about climate change, listing the appropriate ones for each age range. Climate Kids, created by NASA, is a web page dedicated to the diffusion of material for an environmental curriculum. It has activities, videos, games, and more to familiarize children with the subject. Practical Action is an initiative with a STEM approach to boost both ecological didactics and students’ interest in science. The activities and challenges cover the didactic needs of primary and secondary school students.

Have you used any of these materials in class? Have you created your own or turned to others? What do you think should be the role of institutions and educators in teaching about climate change? Do you think we’re doing enough? What would you suggest if not? Let us know in the comments.

 Translation by Daniel Wetta