ADVOCACY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION
International
Teach4ThePlanet is a campaign out of Education International, a Global Union Federation that brings together organizations of teachers and other education employees from across the world. Their campaign for climate change education calls on “every government in the world to deliver on their commitments to climate change education and education for sustainable development in the Paris Agreement (article 12) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (targets 4.7, 12.8 and 13.3). This Manifesto outlines the profession’s vision for quality climate change education and the policy framework necessary to implement it.” Their website Teach the Future UK is an inclusive campaign by secondary and tertiary education students to greatly improve education on the climate emergency and ecological crisis in the UK. They are campaigning for change across the whole of the UK, but as education in the UK is a “devolved matter,” meaning there are different education ministers and education laws in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, (much like Canada) they also have specific campaign branches in Scotland, Wales and England. Their key ask is for a Climate Education Bill for all matters relating to climate change and sustainability to be integrated throughout the curriculum in primary and secondary schools and included in vocational training courses. Their campaign website includes a petition and a letter-writing tool. (Note: the Labour Party adopted their Climate Education Bill in its draft policy ahead of the next general election.)
Campaign for a Green New Deal for Schools (USA) This Sunrise Movement campaign is in support of the Green New Deal for Public Schools Act that was introduced by Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Sen. Ed Markey in September 2023. This bill would provide $1.43 trillion to public schools over the next decade to switch to clean energy, develop high-quality climate curriculum, and ensure schools are equipped to respond when climate disasters strike – prioritizing Black, brown, and working class communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The Sunrise Movement is calling on school boards and superintendents to pass district-wide policies, while building the power and momentum for federal legislation that transforms our school system to stop the climate crisis. Their website includes a letter-writing tool.
Canada
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There is no nation-wide campaign for climate change education in Canada. At the provincial level, there is only one youth group that has developed a campaign for climate change education reform in B.C. In face of the lack of sufficient climate change and climate justice education in schools, other youth and Indigenous organizations have started producing their own climate education resources and programs.
Youth
Climate Education Reform BC is a student-led campaign for climate change education reform. Their goal is to “reform to transform” and their vision is to:see the effective implementation of climate change education that fully addresses the complexities of this topic and prepares students to fight climate change.” Their website includes advocacy toolkits for highschools, elementary schools, students, parents, and community groups.
Shake Up the Establishment provides environmental education resources for youth.
Rooted and Rising run a climate justice leadership program for youth.
UBC Climate Hub’s Youth Climate Ambassadors Project trains university students to present and engage high school students on climate action.
Indigenous
Indigenous Climate Action – Youth Needs provides resources and programs on Indigenous climate justice for Indigenous youth.
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources run a program for Indigenous youth.