education

The lives of today’s young people will be overshadowed by a changing climate – yet surveys by the campaign group Teach the Future show that only 4% of schoolchildren feel they know a lot about climate change and 75% of teachers feel inadequately trained to teach about it.

We have created resources to help bridge this gap, and to help teachers stimulate deeper learning and conversation about climate change in lessons right across the curriculum – not just in Science and Geography, where it already features, but in other subject areas such as English.

We also go out to secondary schools around Cornwall and Devon to deliver screenings and activities - if you are a teacher or student and would like us to come to your school please get in touch!

This project has been made possible by a grant from Localgiving and Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Young people and eco-anxiety

Climate change poses an existential threat, and the future for young people can seem very scary.

But we can’t sweep the crisis under the carpet and pretend it’s not happening.

But equally it’s important not to induce feelings of anxiety or helplessness in young people, but to inspire them to become part of the solution, and prepare them for the green jobs of the future.

The resources below give some great advice on how to talk to young people about this huge issue – and support them in navigating their emotional responses to it where necessary.

Want to take things further…?

• Use your voice. Write to your MP and local councillor to stress your feelings about the climate and ecological crisis. Don’t be deterred if you get a disappointing response from them. Even if you are too young to vote, remind them that one day soon you will be 18, and you will be voting for candidates with the strongest programme on environment and climate.
• Find out about local climate groups or green organisations and see how you can get involved, support or volunteer with them.
• Educate and inspire yourself with great climate change podcasts such as So Hot Right Now, or Outrage and Optimism. Read empowering books such as The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres. Subscribe to Carbon Brief to stay up to date with the latest climate science and news.
• If you are lucky enough to have a pension or investments, make sure that these are with green, ethical funds that support renewable and regenerative industries rather than fossil fuels and environmental destruction.
• You could even consider what happens at the very beginning and end of life too. One of the biggest impacts you can have is by choosing to have fewer children - while after death a green woodland burial has a much smaller carbon footprint than cremation. Some companies even offer more extreme options, such as body composting!