Greening the curriculum
- Given the regular alarming news about rising global temperatures and threats to nature, moves are afoot to do even more, starting with instruction in the classroom
- Comprehensive programmes are being developed to give students the skills and knowledge to mitigate and hopefully reverse the harmful effects of climate change
Most schools in Hong Kong don’t yet have climate change or sustainability in the curriculum, but the topics’ importance is widely recognised and being acted on around the world.
Key themes and workable solutions are woven into classes on science, civics, geography and languages. Student projects explore everything from green power and habitat destruction to clean water and coral regeneration. Volunteer groups are heading out to play their part in beach clean-ups, recycling initiatives and tree-planting campaigns. And campus buildings are being upgraded to incorporate solar panels, roof gardens and energy-efficient lighting.
All of that has an impact, but given the regular alarming news about rising global temperatures and threats to nature, moves are afoot to do even more, starting with instruction in the classroom. “We are working to embed climate change education across the curriculum for all ages – not just in subjects commonly associated with this theme, such as geography or science,” said Dr Karen Birmingham, head of communications, international education, at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUPA). “High-quality and local context are key to this programme, which is why we are seeking to build a community of global education experts and policymakers to provide input for this critical area.”
The basic plan is to draw on the expertise of thought leaders in up to 160 countries and at roughly 10,000 schools around the world. Step two will be to develop comprehensive programmes that give young people the practical skills and holistic knowledge to mitigate and, ideally, reverse the harmful effects of climate change.
For maximum impact, the CUPA programme will aim to address challenges at the local, national and global level, while emphasising the need for urgency and the fact that everyone has a role to play.
“Education is an essential tool for combating climate change, but its potential is still far from being realised,” said Rod Smith, group managing director for international education at CUPA. “A community of educators and leaders can influence the direction, and that will empower current and future generations to respond and be ‘ready for the world’.”
In the first instance, all those with experience or ideas to share are being invited to get involved. They can complete a questionnaire, take part in free online sessions to discuss relevant topics, or submit comments on a recently published paper setting out the main objectives.
