https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04115-5
In the United States, climate education needs shaking up — across all levels and settings.
By Fonna Forman
Some 72% of US residents accept that climate change is happening. But many don’t understand why — only 58% think that it is caused by humans. And many don’t think that the climate crisis will affect them: only 46% consider themselves personally at risk.
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People who don’t think climate change affects them are often apathetic towards, or resistant to, climate action — despite it being one of the largest long-term threats to everyone’s health and well-being. What is needed to turn things around in the coming years is broad climate literacy.
California provides one model. The causes and effects of climate change, as well as mitigation and adaptation methods, are taught in all primary and secondary schools. The state provides some funding to train teachers, but not enough. Ecoliteracy groups, including the non-profit organization Ten Strands and the University of California-based initiative Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects, are dedicated to filling the gap.
