Nadia Whittome’s vow to ensure climate change is taught in primary and secondary schools is gathering momentum.
The Nottingham East MP is spearheading a bill with Teach the Future which aims to get our youngsters more understanding about saving the planet.
Teach the Future is a school-pupil-led group that campaigns for climate education and the bill is believed to be the first written by students.
The government aims to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and the necessity of teaching children about the climate and the world we will inhabit as we move through the 21st century.
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, said: “The climate crisis is already affecting people in the here and now.
“our education system is failing to prepare young people for this future.”
Nadia Whittome, Nottingham East MP
“Right now, our education system is failing to prepare young people for this future. That’s why I’ve re-tabled my Climate Education Bill: to give young people the education they need to understand the world they will inherit and thrive in a net zero society.”
The bill has now reached the second stage in the House of Commons, attracting support from high profile politicians such as Shadow Climate and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn.
The bill comes off the back of a survey in 2018 that found a staggering 42 per cent of pupils felt they had learned little or nothing about the environment at school.
Teachers themselves also believe there are opportunities to integrate climate change in their teaching.
Primary school teacher Cheryl Newman, 53, said: “I think the Climate Education Bill is long overdue as children should be made aware of the facts regarding the climate crisis.
“I taught a class today (9 year olds) who had heard of the phrase ” global warming” but had very little understanding of its meaning.
“This lack of information is unacceptable on such an important matter.”
As such, there’s a lot of scope to improve teaching about the climate, biodiversity, conservation, and our environmental responsibilities.
Liv Marshall, 15, from Teach the Future said: “We need the Climate Education Bill to make sure that every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to learn about the world they’re growing up in, the challenges they’ll face and most importantly, how to fix it.”
Climate education has far reaching benefits for our economy, society and people’s wellbeing in the coming years.
However mum of two, Claire Smith, said: “I think my children might be a bit young for much climate education.
“I’m not aware they’ve done much beyond knowing that recycling is good, pollution is bad.”
The Climate Education Bill would integrate teaching about climate change and sustainability throughout the curriculum in primary schools and secondary schools, and on vocational courses.
As such, there’s a lot of scope to improve teaching about the climate, biodiversity, conservation, and our environmental responsibilities.
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