A PLAN to improve climate education has been launched by the University of Reading this week.
The Climate Education Action Plan, launched on Monday at COP26, comprises nine ways to help pupils tackle the impacts of climate change.
It was developed in partnership with the Department for Education, Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society, Office for Climate Education, the EAUC Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, climate solutions charity Ashden and young campaigners.
It follows a Climate Education Summit in September, attended by over 500 people, where young people, scientists, education specialists, campaigners and policymakers discussed how all pupils should be equipped with skills to adapt to climate change.
Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, head of mathematical, physical and computational sciences at the university, said it is vital young people learn the effects of climate change.
He said: “There is a lot of great work being done by teachers and schools around the country, but we have heard loud and clear, not least from young people, that we need a step change in climate education.”
Professor Charlton-Perez added it is crucial that everyone works together to give all young people access to high-quality, up-to-date climate information.
“This is an issue that requires action right now,” he said.
“We are therefore delighted to have the support of the Department for Education and our partners to enact significant positive changes that can take place immediately.”
Among the plan’s nine strands are pledges to provide professional development in climate education.
It will lead on three strands, which the University’s Institute of Education has already made progress for the academic year.
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