Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, has responded to the announcement by the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, on climate education.
Last week, Ms Whittome led the first-ever debate in Parliament on climate change and sustainability in the curriculum,2 bringing youth climate activists into Parliament. She has been campaigning on this issue since she entered Parliament, alongside school pupils from Teach the Future.3
Reacting from Glasgow, where she is attending COP26, Ms Whittome said:
“Today’s announcement is a victory for the school pupils who have been campaigning relentlessly to be taught the truth about the climate crisis and to be equipped with the skills to tackle it.
“I welcome the government’s recognition that more needs to be done to ensure that young people learn about climate change in schools. However, while this is a step in the right direction, the government’s proposals do not go far enough.
“This is not the comprehensive review of the curriculum, with climate change embedded across all subjects, that we have called for. Teaching about the climate will remain voluntary, so many young people will continue to miss out.
“Teachers must also be supported to deliver climate education. 70% of teachers feel they haven’t received adequate training to educate students about climate change.4 Today’s proposals do not adequately address this.
“While some measures to help decarbonise the education sector are included, the government is failing to go far enough fast enough.”
The government’s announcement about climate education is available here: Education Secretary puts climate change at the heart of education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
