As the COP26 summit in Glasgow nears the end of its
first week the focus turns towards young people.
UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is set to
announce the introduction of a ‘model science curriculum’ for schools that will
support staff to teach young people about nature and their impact on the
environment [1].
This will be in place by 2023 and will include a
scheme to recognize the efforts of young people to protect the environment
modelled on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Speaking to the BBC Mr. Zahawi said "Empowering teachers in every school to
deliver world-leading climate change education will not only raise awareness
and understanding of the problem, but also equips young people with the skills
and knowledge to build a sustainable future,"
Also speaking to the BBC education leaders
stressed the work already being done in schools to educate young people about
environmental issues.
James Bowen of the National Association of Head
Teachers said a ‘huge amount of good work’ was already being done, Geoff Barton
of the Association of School and College Leaders said schools were ‘working
very hard’ on climate change issues.
Both though also stressed that more needed to
be done by government, James Bowen said there needed to be a ‘coherent national
strategy’ in place if the plans are to make any real impact; Geoff Barton said
young people want to see ‘more concerted action’ on the environment from
policymakers.
In October last year an article published in
medical journal The Lancet detailed the impact of climate change on the
physical and mental health of young people [2]. This could see conditions
including heart disease and anxiety increase dramatically.
Research carried out by the University of Bath
and reported in the International Business Times this week shows that
out of 10,000 young people from around the world who took part in a survey 77%
said they were frightened about the future due to climate change [3].
Nearly half the young people who responded
(45%) said the anxiety they felt about climate change was impacting on their
daily life, many reported feeling angry and helpless and that the government
wasn’t listening to young people on climate change (48%), and that not enough
was being done to address the issue (61%).
Dr Liz Marks an academic at Bath University’s
Department of Psychology and the co-lead for the project said “It’s shocking to hear how so many young people
from around the world feel betrayed by those who are supposed to protect them.
Now is the time to face the truth, listen to young people, and take urgent
action against climate change” [4].
The scale of anxiety amongst young people about
climate change is unprecedented, and with good reason.
Data published by the Stockholm Environment
Institute and the Institute for European Environmental Policy this week shows
that the emissions of the richest countries could put the possibility of
achieving climate goals in doubt [5].
Climate scientists warn there is only a finite
amount of greenhouse gasses that can be released into the atmosphere before the
planet warms irreversibly, that point is perilously close to being reached.
The guilty parties here aren’t just,
reprehensible as they are, billionaires burning up the planet’s resources to
play out their childhood dreams of being Buck Rogers. The finger of blame
points at everyone in the developed world.
No wonder the young are anxious and angry, they
have good grounds for being terrified and furious too. There is, even if we
pull our fingers out and do something, an unholy mess coming, one they are
going to be tasked with cleaning up.
All of which makes the government’s plans to
award badges for being green look at best naive and at worst like a piece of
clumsy displacement on the part of a government that clumps around like its got
two left feet.
What young people and those of us with a little
snow on the roof too want isn’t badges, its action. We want to see signs that
our leaders have got the message, the environmental can can’t be kicked any
further down the alley. The time for action is now.
What are the chances? Sadly, much smaller than you’d
hope. As the private jets with flags painted on their noses take off from
Glasgow the horse-trading is about to start, good intentions are likely to get
pushed aside by big money.
A jilted generation of young people know that all too well, that is why they’re outside the conference hall with placards, not at home sewing meaningless badges on their jumpers.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59172936
[2]https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30223-0/fulltext
[3]https://www.ibtimes.com/it-kills-me-inside-activists-sound-alarm-climate-anxiety-3331818
[5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-59157836
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