Embed climate education in the curriculum and maintain funding for existing climate and environmental education programmes to support educators and young people
This should include investing in education as a means of accelerating the transition to a sustainable society; and placing meaningful public participation, particularly of affected, marginalised and vulnerable people, at the heart of climate policy making in Scotland including through long-term investment in community-led action.
Education is the bedrock on which transformative action can be built. Currently, ‘enabling young people to become responsible citizens’ is one of the four key capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence. Global Citizenship Education can help deliver this: it shows young people they have a voice and gives them the skills, knowledge and values to use it. It is enshrined in UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 and, in Scotland, within pupils’ entitlement to Learning for Sustainability (LfS). However, teachers must have the support they need to deliver this. Sustained investment is required to deliver on Target 2030 and the LfS Action Plan to realise the commitment for every school to have a ‘whole-school’ approach.
As well as formal education, climate change literacy needs to be built into lifelong learning and community learning opportunities. Individuals, communities, businesses and the public sector can achieve carbon solutions literacy through training opportunities such as the Royal Scottish Geographic Society Climate Solutions course, accredited Climate Emergency Training delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful (the strategic partner in Scotland for the Carbon Literacy Project), with training adaptable to suit the different needs of sectors and audiences, or through introductory training.