The Good Cause Of The Month: Climate Change Teacher Training Academy

As you know, every month I introduce a charity organisation on my blog in order to raise awareness for them. Since I have this fantastic platform, my blog, I try to use it to support good causes too. This month, I’d like to introduce: Climate Change Teacher Training Academy.

Why is Teaching About Climate Change is Important?

Teaching about climate change is vital for several reasons:

Firstly, it raises awareness about one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. Understanding the causes and consequences of climate change empowers students to make informed decisions and encourages them to take action to mitigate its effects.

Secondly, education about climate change fosters critical thinking skills as students analyze data, discuss different viewpoints, and explore innovative solutions. This prepares the next generation of leaders to tackle environmental challenges effectively.

Thirdly, teaching climate change promotes sustainability and environmental stewardship, instilling a sense of responsibility towards the planet. When students learn about their impact on the environment, they are more likely to engage in eco-friendly practices.

Lastly, climate change education is essential for building resilience in communities, equipping individuals with the knowledge they need to adapt to changing conditions. In sum, integrating climate change into education is crucial for a sustainable future.

What The Climate Change Teacher Academy?

This innovative programme was launched on 22nd of April 2019 and aims to be fully funded and free to all schools, open to any UK teachers! All primary and secondary school teachers need to do is log onto the Climate Change Teacher Academy to access the five free courses. These courses are accredited by the United Nations. So, teachers will be able to teach their pupils vital lessons about climate change and at the same time they will also earn CPD and certification from the United Nations. This is a free program.

The aim

The aim is that every school in the UK to have at least one Lead Teacher for Climate Change Education so that our children can transform knowledge into positive climate protection action. We have 11.5 years to stop the climate crisis. The signs are already visible and soon they will turn into catastrophic if we don’t act NOW. With this program, we can tackle the problem on a small community level. Just as we would advocate for early intervention for the pupil’s learning, we can also advocate for climate change mitigation.

The target

A target of 80 schools are being urged to sign up to take part in an initial trial of the course (Phase 1), lasting around two months, which covers topics including the international legal framework to climate change, gender and environment, children and climate change, cities and climate change, and human health. The first 80 schools with a Climate Change Teacher, accredited by UN CC:Learn, will then take part in the trial of the eduCCate Programme (Phase 2). The eduCCate programme will then be made available to all schools across the UK with first lessons expected to be delivered in the classroom from September 2019 (Phase 3). So it’s all super accelerated as we really have to pull our act together to save our planet.