Partnering to enhance climate education

The University has launched an action plan at COP26 to reshape climate education, designed to empower teachers and improve teaching about climate in UK schools immediately. This climate education work is the focus of the University’s virtual exhibit in the Blue Zone at COP26, alongside our many climate and sustainability experts who are actively involved in the work taking place at the conference. 

The Climate Education Action Plan was developed with a number of partners, including the Department for Education, Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society, Office for Climate Education, the EAUC - Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, STEM Learning, climate solutions charity Ashden and young people, including climate youth campaigners. It is allied with the Department for Education’s draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, announced on Friday 5 November. 

You can read the full action plan on the University’s Planet Partners website. The plan’s nine strands will be co-owned, led and delivered by partners and young people. The University will lead on three of these strands:  

1. Incorporating climate education in initial teacher training  
2. Supporting dynamic, well-supported, national networks of educators, scientists and young people to share ideas and promote collaboration. 
3. Encouraging professionals working in climate research and policy, from science and non-science disciplines, to provide help to teacher-led climate education initiatives. 

The action plan follows an open letter co-signed with partners earlier this year and the University’s extremely successful Climate Education Summit in September attended by more than 500 people. At the Summit, young people, scientists, education specialists, campaigners and policymakers discussed how all pupils should be equipped with knowledge and skills needed to adapt to and help tackle the impacts of climate change. 

Arising from the University’s strategic commitment to excellence, community, engagement and environmental sustainability, the Summit and action plan are high-profile examples of the University’s world-leading position in both climate research and teacher training and ability to convene and facilitate discussion between high-level stakeholders.  

Acting now to make a difference

For Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, Head of the School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences, who is leading the University’s involvement, this work is the culmination of a decade’s efforts to empower our children and young people to face a challenging future with confidence. 

“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. It is crucial that everyone including teachers, school leaders, climate researchers and policymakers work together to give all young people access to high-quality, up-to-date climate information.” 

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “This Climate Education Action Plan makes an important contribution to the University of Reading’s commitment to deliver meaningful solutions to the greatest problems facing the planet. 

“As world leaders meet to address the climate crisis, including how we prepare our children and young people for the future, I am proud that we and our partners have delivered this action-based plan that can start making a difference now.” 

We would love to hear your thoughts about what you could do to support this work, so email climateeducation@reading.ac.uk if you would like to get involved. You can find out more about the University’s climate and sustainability campaign #PlanetPartners at www.reading.ac.uk/planet.