Review curriculum to embed climate change crisis, unions urge

Unions NASUWT, NEU, UCU and UNISON have written to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to take action to ensure climate change education becomes fully embedded in ​the system.
 
The impact of climate change requires an emergency response, including from the education sector, because young people have most to lose from the current lack of direction, say the four unions.  
 
They say there is concern the government has yet to grasp the gravity of the situation and are calling for important measures to be embedded in the education system. These are a comprehensive review of the entire curriculum, so that it is preparing and mobilising our whole society for a sustainable future.  
    
As an interim measure, the government should support Jim Knight's Private Member​'s Bill, restoring sustainability as a pillar of the curriculum.  
    
The government should also put in place a comprehensive plan to decarbonise the entire education estate by 2030, as part of an overdue refurbishment and repair programme. It also includes a detailed policy on green travel for students, staff, and parents should be developed.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: “Education has a critical contribution to make in educating for climate justice and helping to secure a more sustainable world for future generations. The UK Government needs to step up to ensure teachers have the resources and tools to provide access to curriculum entitlements that give all children and young people the opportunity to develop their understanding of environmental issues and to be responsible citizens. We also need to see much more action from the Government to deliver substantial improvements to the energy efficiency of existing school buildings which have suffered from significant under-investment over decades.”
 
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "It is the next generation that will bear the brunt of any inaction on climate change. We all need to play a part in ensuring a sustainable future for our young people. Schools and colleges can play their part and the UK Government needs to ensure that quality climate change education is embedded across the curriculum, as well as focusing on decarbonising the education estate by 2031."
 
Jo Grady, General Secretary of UCU, said: "The UK government is not taking the urgent action necessary to deal with the climate emergency. UCU, alongside our sister unions, is calling on the Secretary of State for Education to make sure that education for sustainable development is embedded into the work of schools, colleges and universities to empower students to build a fairer, greener future. This must include a comprehensive plan for decarbonisation of the education estate and urgent action on affordable green public transport for students and staff."
 
Jon Richards, Assistant General Secretary of UNISON, said: “Climate action has to be built into every part of our lives and that includes education.  Not only is it vital young people learn about a greener tomorrow but the government must ensure schools are able to practise what they teach. Classrooms and facilities need significant investment to ensure they reach net zero targets, and transport for pupils, staff and parents has to be sustainable.”