Need to address mental health within climate change education

Abstract

Education plays a crucial role in equipping young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the challenges of adulthood. In the context of the escalating climate crisis, climate change education (CCE) has an essential role in this aim. Despite an increase of research in the area, where young people have been identified as being particularly concerned about climate change, CCE continues to be under-represented in the UK curriculum. This article explores critical considerations for developing an effective approach to CCE. It emphasises the importance of young people's emotional responses to this aspect of their education that can shape their engagement with the topic. It addresses the need to consider how informal learning through social media and online platforms can have a significant impact on views of the crisis, as well as behaviour. Finally, the article proposes several evidence-based strategies to enhance the integration of CCE into formal education, fostering both critical engagement and actionable understanding among students.

Keywords: Anxiety disorders; Child & adolescent psychiatry.