CHILDREN are being let down by poor climate education, but will feel its biggest impacts, experts have warned.
In an open letter, students, teachers, climate scientists and environmental campaigners warned more effort is needed to teach the topic.
On Wednesday, September 15, the University of Reading will hold a Climate Education Summit, aiming to create a nationwide action plan to improve climate education in schools.
It comes as a survey of teachers by Teach the Future showed nine in 10 teachers think the topic should be compulsory, but only three in 10 feel equipped to teach it.
The university’s free event will bring together young people, teachers, policymakers, and climate and education experts.
It is being held in partnership with the Office for Climate Education, Royal Meteorological Society, Met Office, EAUC and Ashden.
COP26 president, and Reading East MP, Alok Sharma will also attend the event.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor at the University of Reading, said climate education is crucial for making changes and facing the future.
“Many groups and individuals already do good work in this area, but we must bring together experts across all areas of climate education if we are to genuinely address the issue,” he said. “We hope the summit can help deliver much-needed action and resources that make an immediate difference.”
The aim is for lessons learnt from the summit reach COP26, and that any partnerships and initiatives are rolled out and replicated widely to support as many schools as possible.
Residents can get involved via: www.reading.ac.uk/en/planet/climate-education-summit
