Comment on climate change in the National Curriculum
Commenting on the publication today by the Department for Education of the revised framework document for the national Curriculum in England, Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at London School of Economics and Political Science, said:
“We are glad that the Department for Education has responded to criticism about its plans to remove climate change from National Curriculum for geography lessons. A number of higher education institutions and professional societies drew attention to the problem of omitting from school geography lessons the need for pupils to learn about climate change, an issue that is likely to affect all young people during their lives.
“However, it is disappointing that the new framework does not make explicit that pupils should learn about the potential impacts of unmanaged climate change, as well as strategies for adapting and for mitigation through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, the Department gives the impression that it is still reluctant to respond to the recommendations of experts about the need to include climate change in lessons.
“We hope that the Department will also ensure that climate change features in the new National Curriculum Key Stage 4 Science lessons, which has yet to be finalised.”
Notes for Editors
- The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment was launched at the London School of Economics and Political Science in October 2008. It is funded by The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and the Global Green Growth Institute.