In the Zone(s) – UKSSN is taking over 20 sixth form students from 12 UK regions to COP26 from 4-7 November. Students will be featuring in the blue ministerial and green civil society zones with partners PPL PWR, Ucell and Climate Psychology Alliance, supported by Global Action Plan, the Royal Society of Chemistry outreach department and UKSSN member schools. A further 35 UKSSN students from Year 10-13 will be spreading the word about COP in their schools and regions, and involved remotely in online events and communications. You can read more about this here.
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A Journey of Exploration – During the global COP26 Climate Conference, the Transform Our World Youth Summit is bringing together UK schools for “an online journey of exploration”. Throughout the Summit, young people will learn about practical action, that they have a role to play and that they’re united in compassion with others who care like they do. Each day will focus on a different theme of how we can all play a part in transforming our world, together. Through core sessions, tailored for both primary and secondary schools, and fringe events, each day will feature a range of activities for students to get involved with. Sessions will vary in length and will be driven by student involvement, with practical activities to get stuck into.
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4 Nations Conference – Click here to read the latest Inter Climate Network newsletter. It has a feature on the students from across the UK who took on the role of negotiating teams ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) at a youth summit. The Four Nations School Climate Conference saw students from 15 secondary schools agree on a range of measures and actions aimed to address climate change and environmental degradation. This was organised to emulate the Glasgow COP, and a number of resolutions were agreed. The newsletter has details of other initiatives as well.
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CCC Webinar – The Committee on Climate Change has a webinar series on the UK Climate Risk – The State of the Nation. The series explores the Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk which set out the priority climate change risks and opportunities for the UK. The webinars cover key sectors exposed to priority risks, important players in responding to climate risk, and some of the key challenges raised in the assessment. There are YouTube recordings of each session.
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BERA Manifesto – The 2021 BERA Research Commission on Education for Environmental Sustainability is creating a manifesto for change. It has analysed responses from over 200 young people and teachers to produce the manifesto and this will be launched on Monday 1st November at 5pm. To attend, please register here . The event will present the manifesto along with responses from Mollie Hucker (Youth Climate Activist),Judy Ling Wong (Honorary President at Black Environment Network), Lord Jim Knight of Weymouth, and Sarah Robertson, (Director of Education and Professional Practice at Royal Society of Chemistry). For more about the project click here.
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Dear Mr Zahawi – The Guardian had an article last week about a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Education about climate change education. You can see the letter in full here accompanied by a personal comment from our Chair of Trustees which references some of NAEE’s work.
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SOS-UK’s SDG Teach In is a campaign to put the SDGs, and therefore sustainability, at the heart of all aspects of education and across all disciplines by encouraging educators to include them in their teaching and learning during the two weeks of the Teach In. This year’s campaign will take place from 21st February – 4th March 2022. UKSSN says please sign their pledge to take part. Here’s an SOS-UK guide to their activities at COP26.
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DERC News – The Development Education Research Centre asks us to note the following:
– A new briefing paper “Looking at Climate Change Education through the lens of Global Education” by Doug Bourn and Knut Hjelleset.
– A new book “Teaching Climate Change in Primary Schools: An Interdisciplinary Approach” edited by Anne Dolan.
– A new website for the The Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education Project
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Facts and Actions for kids – This is what the Woodland Trust says its new resource provides. It says: “Our simple guide will help kids understand climate change. We’ll explain what’s causing it and how it’s affecting people and wildlife. Plus, we’ll share some top tips to help youngsters take action.”
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Global Stilling – In a Conversation article, Hannah Bloomfield, Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Risk Analytics at the University of Bristol explores what exceptionally low winds (described as an extreme event) might mean for the future energy grid.
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Race for Nature’s Recovery – James Adeleke, Director of Generation Success, writes on the CJS website on behalf of the Race for Nature partnership about the scheme setting out to diversify the environmental workforce.
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Heating Buildings – In an article for the Conversation, Ran Boydell, a visiting lecturer in Sustainable Development at Heriot-Watt University explores the ins and outs of heat pumps, as he terms it: “the good, bad and ugly of the UK’s plan to replace gas boilers. There’s much detail here to stimulate discussion in schools.
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Dung Beetles – There are 60 species of dung beetle in the UK, around half of which are scarce or listed as threatened. Dung beetles are important insects which improve the quality and structure of soil, reduce parasite burdens in livestock and provide a variety of other crucial services within agricultural landscapes. But they are struggling, as changes to agricultural practices and intensification have had significant impacts on a wide range of species. More detail here.
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Tencel – Is Tencel – a regenerated cellulose fibre (like rayon) – as sustainable as a lot of people say it is? Treehugger explores the issues. And what of cotton and linen? How do they compare in sustainability terms? Much here for an environmental science goup to explore.
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WEEC by WEEC – The 11th World Environmental Education Congress takes place from 14-18 March 2022 in Prague. The organisers say: “ In light of the uncertainty of the COVID situation in many countries, we have decided to postpone the deadline for abstract submission to November 30th. We hope that more time makes congress more available for the world environmental and sustainability education community.
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We shall be publishing a news item (or two) on our blog every day during COP 26.