The youngest current member of the British Parliament, Nadia Whittome, introduced a ten-minute rule bill in Parliament this week, calling for new legislation to ensure that young people receive more education about climate collapse.
The bill calls for matters related to climate change and sustainability to be included in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools and included in vocational training courses. It was written in collaboration with Teach the Future, a group dedicated to climate education led by school students.
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The bill has received broad cross-party support. Its co-sponsors include MP Jeremy Corbyn, Conservative MP Philip Dunne, Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee, Robert Halfon, Chairman of the Education Special Committee, Green MP Caroline Lucas, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, SNP MP Mhairi Black and other Labour MPs including Yvette Cooper, Clive Lewis, Zarah Sultana, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Darren Jones.
In 2018, a survey found that 42% of students believed that they had little or no knowledge of the school environment, and 68% of students wanted to know more.
Nadia Whittome, Member of Parliament for Nottingham East, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our society and will profoundly affect our lives in the coming years.
“At present, our education system is not fully prepared for the future of young people. This bill means that climate change is getting the attention it deserves in the curriculum.”
Teach the Future’s research found that 70% of teachers believe they have not received enough training to educate students about climate change.
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Teach the Future has been leading a petition within the UK, asking the government to implement climate education throughout the curriculum. More than 25,000 people signed the petition, and other key figures also supported the call.
Just a few days before COP26, Ms. Whittome debated climate change and sustainability in the course for the first time in Parliament, bringing young climate activists into Parliament.
During COP26, the government announced a series of measures related to climate change and the education sector, but did not integrate them into the curriculum.
Activists hope that the bill will encourage the government to make further legislation to make climate change part of the core content of all disciplines in schools, provide training for teachers, and achieve faster decarbonization of the education sector.
Scarlett Westbrook, 17, is the campaign coordinator of Teach the Future. She said: “As students, we need to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to build a Resilient society.
“We need to ensure that climate education is no longer unique to those who choose elective subjects or short stays, but centered on all subjects, because we will all be affected by this crisis.”
“This bill will provide students with the education they need to fully thrive as adults, and the education we deserve.”
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Ruby Harbour is the editorial assistant EcologistThis article is based on a press release from Teach the Future.
