Hot & Bothered – Sustainable theatre company Pigfoot is releasing a short documentary ‘Bothered’. Drawn from conversations with young people, young activists and teachers across the United Kingdom, this 14 minute documentary examines the current state of climate education in the UK and shares how people can be part of change. It features the Teach the Future network, and those engaging with the Ministry of Eco Education. The first screening, followed by a panel discussion takes place on Wednesday 24th May at 1830. Registration details here.
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Curriculum for a Changing Climate – Teach the Future is hosting a webinar on Thursday 25 May, 1600 to 1700 where you can hear more about its latest curriculum change initiative. You will hear from:
- Students from Teach the Future on the importance of this project;
- Academics leading the ‘tracked changes’ subject reviews and how they have completed these;
- Teachers who have already been using the revised curriculum, how they have been using it and the impact of this.
Register now to receive the joining details.
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Climate Literacy – NOAA, as part of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is requesting suggestions on structure, topics, and content to help update a key USA national climate literacy guide used by educators, policymakers, and scientists across the U.S. and internationally for more than a decade. The last climate literacy guide, “Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science,” was released in 2009. Eighteen federal agencies and departments, in partnership with many science and education organizations, produced it. Feedback is sought on the following questions:
- How should the updated document be structured?
- What topics should be included?
- How should topics be weighted and ordered within the document?
- Are there pieces that are missing from the 2009 guide?
- Are there pieces of the 2009 Guide that aren’t relevant anymore?
- What audiences do you think should use the guide?
- How do you see yourself or your community using this guide?
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Westminster Education Forum – On Wednesday morning, 12th July, there will be a WEF ‘policy conference’: Next steps for green and climate change education in England. Details here. The leading speaker will be Jonathan Dewsbury, Head of the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit at the DfE who will speak about the implementation of the Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for Education. The event will “look at the future of green and climate change education, and embedding an integrated focus on sustainability in education in England. Speakers will look at the implementation of the Strategy so far, including the provision of teacher training and CPD, the new Natural History GCSE with first teaching expected in 2025, and the creation and utilisation of the National Education Nature Park which is expected to go live later this year.
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LEEF – London’s environmental education forum is looking for people to get involved organising events, communicating in different ways about activities, becoming a trustee, etc. Details here.
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Circularity – Click here to read the latest newsletter from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery, there is a new 5-part podcast series looking at how and why we need to redesign our food system. As the primary driver of biodiversity loss, our current food system also accounts for a third of greenhouse gas emissions. EMF says that there is a better way. You can listen to the latest episodes of The Circular Economy Show Podcast to learn how Circular Design for Food can help address these challenges. Catch up on the series so far:
New episodes are published every Tuesday, so subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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Ath-fhiadhachadh na Gàidhealtachd – Trees for Life have opened a rewilding centre near Loch Ness as a gateway for visitors to explore the Dundreggan estate which is part of the Affric Highlands rewilding programme. There’s more detail c/o National World.
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#30DaysWild – The UK’s month-long nature challenge, #30DaysWild, starts in June. The Wildlife Trusts are challenging everyone to do one ‘wild’ thing a day throughout the month. They will send you weekly activity inspiration, but you can also sign up here, where you’ll get a free pack to help you take part at home. Activity packs are available in both Welsh and English. Spending time in nature improves health, so this is a great way to make time for your wellbeing each day. You can share your photos and activities on social media using #30DaysWild. You can also join the online community of nature-lovers, outdoor-enthusiasts, and environmentalists in the 30 Days Wild Facebook group.
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Every 2nd Child – Our World in Data recently had a feature on global child mortality. Written by Max Roser, it explored how we know about the mortality of children in the past and what we can learn from it for our future.
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CITES @ 50 – March 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the landmark convention that stands at the crossroads of wildlife conservation and sustainable trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was opened to the world’s governments for signature on 3 March, 1973, at the end of the Plenipotentiaries Conference hosted by the United States of America. 10 years ago the United Nations General Assembly also agreed an international day to honour the importance of wild animals and plants. Both anniversaries fall at a time of unprecedented challenge for nature and biodiversity, with millions of species of wild animals and plants affected by the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution.
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Wergulu – Herbstalk has a feature article by Patrice Green on the 9 sacred herbs of the Anglo Saxons. One of these was the nettle which is a mineral-rich plant. In past times, nettle was known as Wergulu.
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Scarabaeus laticollis – An article for Focusing on Wildlife explores whether attention to biodiversity could be a key to better forest carbon storage in Europe. Eighty dung beetles, first described by Linnaeus in 1767, are being reintroduced at the Étang de Cousseau National Reserve as a first step to improving forest biodiversity there. Unlike other dung beetles, S. laticollis not only rolls dung into neat balls, but also takes them underground, recycling important soil nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, while dispersing grass and tree seeds.
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Rhino Update – The rhino population in Zimbabwe has surpassed 1,000 animals for the first time in over 30 years, a sign that efforts to preserve the species are working. Dedicated conservationists continue to persevere ‘with great success’ despite soaring costs for food and fuel. Details here from ABC. There are more positive stories like this c/o Future Crunch.