The Eurydice Network of the European Commission has a recent article on their website about how education can contribute awareness and action on climate change.

The article notes that “According UNESCO, "education is critical in helping populations understand and address the impacts of climate change, and in encouraging the changes in attitudes and behaviour needed to help them address the causes of climate change, adopt more sustainable lifestyles and develop skills that support different modules of economies, as well as to adapt to the impact of climate change".. UNESCO promotes climate change education (ECC) as part of its Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).”

The authors ask how climate change education might translate into practice. They note that many schools have sustainability as part of their curricula. But climate change can be a challenging topic for teachers to address. There is the science as well as changes needed in behaviour and action. It is about the environment, the economy and future global citizenship.

While this article does not come up with any answers a UNESCO publication, Not Just Hot Air – Putting Climate Change Education into Practice, notes the role of informal education – as does the Commonwealth Education Hub, (see The role of education in propelling climate action).

Courses are one option suggested. A broad consensus on the Internet suggests that one of the most important things we can do is talk about it. Click here to see an example.