Advocating for the Earth Anywhere, at Any Age
Authored by: Hayley Bruning
Climate change has become omnipresent. From the rise in global temperatures to dangerous weather events, the planet and its people are more at risk than ever before. While there are plenty of reports, with millions of people working to understand and track climate change, the effects of our warming world are more visible in some places than they are in others.
We see this clearly on an international level. Countries in Central America and Africa are hit the hardest by floods, droughts, cyclones, and hurricanes, all of which can lead to a depletion of resources and widespread hunger. And while North America is seeing the impacts of climate events unevenly, as well—the air pollution from Canada’s recent wildfires, for example, touched many but not all of the U.S. states—wealthier countries are better equipped to handle and prepare for climate disasters.
What this tells us about climate change is that while it’s happening everywhere, it isn’t happening equally.
“I am in a privileged position where I can work on climate change, but I'm not yet really directly as affected by it as the people that, hopefully, the work that I do can support,” said Anna Guo Ya Pettee, the senior program manager of climate change education at Unbounded Associates. She consults with education firms that work with young people, helping them develop frameworks for action and integrate climate change into their programs.
Anna acknowledges the challenge that younger generations face: “[Climate change is] not a problem that they contributed to, but it's a problem that they're going to have to behold for the rest of their lives.”
So how can climate educators encourage action in children who will eventually face the urgency of our global crisis?
Anna suggests beginning with cognitive points of entry, which are components of a framework for green education that she and her colleagues at Unbound Associates work with. Cognitive points of entry come in the form of questions: What’s your favorite animal? What connections do you have to nature? What’s your favorite outdoor memory? These conversation-starters highlight the importance of preserving the environment, especially the places and wildlife that children love and cherish. Helping young people feel part of and included in the environment is crucial to building climate confidence.
“I think our goal is to build up the capacity enough and the confidence of young people so that they feel like they can go out into their own community and spread the word, take action, whatever big or small that is,” said Anna.
There are additional ways to encourage climate education early on. Direct experience outside is ideal but some kids don’t have many opportunities to play and learn outdoors. Another way is through books and games. For example, Earth Matters, an interactive, environment-focused board game, allows players ages eight and up to exchange ideas in a proactive and fun way. Playing can create lasting social and emotional benefits, encouraging brainstorming and leadership.
“Earth Matters is a timely and thoughtful approach to engaging children and youth on a topic deeply shaping their future,” said Christina Kwauk, head of climate and education at The Education Commission and research director at Unbounded Associates.
In addition, teachers can contribute to climate education whether or not their course is directly related to climate change and the environment. NPR offers several ideas for educators, such as assigning an environmental text or novel, doing a class service project, and simply talking about your personal experience with climate events.
Along with empowering students to advocate for and take care of the planet as best they can, these educational approaches are likely to reduce climate anxiety. The more we learn about climate change and the environment, the better we can adapt and take action together.
