Imagining a new, sustainably based curriculum

A blog from our colleagues at Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at introducing high school students to the worldwide to the world of work in STEM .

‘Without climate education, I don’t see the value in going to school at all,’ said Eleanor Andrade May, student at the University of Sheffield in the UK in an interview with Futurum Careers.

When students are unable to see the connection between their studies and their future, it suggests a deep flaw in the education system. Climate changes affects everyone. But often, it is only taught to school students in geography and science classes. We need climate education to permeate all aspects of the curriculum, to highlight how it is relevant to all subjects and how all subjects are relevant for our response.

A new curriculum might look like:

• students reading about people affected by the impacts of climate change and debating what action governments and individuals should take in their English and language classes
• students learning about the concept of carbon budgets and how to calculate them in maths
• students cooking sustainable, seasonal and local dishes and discussing the issues of global food insecurity in food technology
• students using different visual forms to tell the story of the challenges and consequences of climate change in art and drama.

It is important to show young people that climate change is not something for geographers and scientists to solve. We all have a role to play. Regardless of where students’ interests lie or the subjects they choose to study, they should be educated about the climate emergency.

Witnessing the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, forest fires and loss of biodiversity, either in person or online, can have profound effects on a person’s mental health. Young people often feel powerless to help and eco-anxiety is becoming increasingly common. Equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills to make a difference is vital for the future of our planet.

If you’d like to learn more, contact info@futurumcareers.com or visit www.futurumcareers.com

Futurum Careers works with academics all over the world to translate their research into free education resources that provide a direct link between subjects taught in schools and the world of work in STEM and SHAPE (social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy).

British Labour Party politician Nadia Whittome MP campaigns for climate education in schools.

Futurum cover image © David Parry/PA Wire