GLOBAL GENERATION The schools

GLOBAL WARNING

How do we educate children about climate change without instilling fear? Rose Hardy, head at Haberdashers’ Girls’ School, has advice

Even a child who doesn’t watch or read the news cannot fail to be aware of climate change. Whether it be recent forest fires in Russia and Spain, the extinction of species, recycling campaigns, sustainability or the impact of what we eat, climate change is all around, and children are all-consumed by it.

Over the past few years, children have been exposed to young climate activists such as Greta Thunberg, student strikes, Extinction Rebellion and multiple protests. The environmental agenda has become a curriculum staple in our schools, and rightly so. Most schools are openly playing up climate action, with eco councils and eco prefects becoming the norm within school communities. Yet over-consumption of the environmental agenda also brings with it a darker reality. Climate anxiety is growing among children and there is a palpable sense of apprehension, burden and fears about the future. In some cases, there are even deeper feelings of hopelessness and despair.

In a similar way that politicians and the media during the 1980s fuelled children’s fears with the prospect of nuclear oblivion, the same sense of panic and fear around individual safety that stems from predictions of a future of uncertainty and destruction, are consuming many young people’s minds today. An ‘extreme’ environment approach usually leads to conclusions that if the damage is done, then there’s no point in trying. It’s concerning to learn that some young people are so affected by climate change that they’re even questioning the feasibility or the security of having their own children in the

LIVELY DEBATE Above: Haberdashers School pupils have an appetite for climate change action future. Why bring a new human being into a world that has a bleak future? Again, this comes back to how we communicate the impact of climate change to our children. We must continue to push the importance for change, but in a way that is supportive, invigorating and useful. Shared experience: Inspirational speakers in school can be very useful in sharing positive experiences of those who have made a difference and are focused on giving back rather than impending doom. Age-appropriate: We must consider the age group we are educating and adapt accordingly. For younger children, fears are more related to things they can readily grasp such as physical safety or animal extinction. For teens, the focus might be more on how the world will be impacted by refugees. Accept and acknowledge: For parents, it’s important not to brush off the impact of climate change. Many of us grew up in a different generation, but we must acknowledge children’s worries and reassure them about the future. Support and recognise: The climate agenda is vast, so whether your child is going vegan to support the environment, buying second-hand fashion or taking part in a local community recycling project, support and recognise the importance of these principled acts. Self-educate: Our children will hopefully be the last generation to suffer, but these things matter and to fully participate in meaningful conversations with the young, we must re-educate ourselves too.

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