In the context of still uncertain specific effects of climate change in specific locations, this paper examines whether education significantly increases coping capacity with regard to particular climatic changes, and whether it improves the resilience of people to climate risks in general. Our hypothesis is that investment in universal primary and secondary education around the world is the most effective strategy for preparing to cope with the still uncertain dangers associated with future climate. The empirical evidence presented for a cross-country time series of factors associated with past natural disaster fatalities since 1980 in 125 countries confirms this overriding importance of education in reducing impacts. We also present new projections of populations by age, sex, and level of educational attainment to 2050, thus providing an appropriate tool for anticipating societies' future adaptive capacities based on alternative education scenarios associated with different policies. (authors' abstract)

Climate change education is globally recognised as a key approach through which to enhance the knowledge and understanding of climate change among learners and teachers. This study thus sought to investigate the understanding and teaching of climate change in the Secondary Education Geography Curriculum in Swaziland. The major goal of this study was to establish the understanding and teaching of climate change in the secondary education Geography curriculum of the country. To investigate the understanding and teaching of climate, the study employed an exploratory design comprising methods like questionnaire, focus group interviews as well as document analysis in the form of secondary records. The data was collected from 16 principals, 32 Geography teachers from 16 high schools; four from each region of Swaziland, one Senior Environmental Education Officer, one senior inspector of Geography and one senior Geography curriculum designer. Numerous gaps and misconceptions were found to exist in learners and teachers understanding of climate change education. The findings reflected that the teachers were not comfortable with the integration of climate change education into all the secondary education Geography curriculum lessons. However, they claimed to be unknowingly practising its integration to a limited extent. Although the teachers generally supported the integration of climate change education into the geography curriculum, they cited challenges like lack of proper training on climate change education, a shortage of teaching resources on CCE and the already overcrowded geography curriculum which then made it impossible for CCE integration. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Training need to train teachers on CCE both at in-service and pre-service level and providing the resources required for CCE, for instance, the internet and good libraries for research, since CCE requires perpetual learning. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Humanities Education / PhD / Unrestricted

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Jacqueline D. Spears / Scientists agree that there is ample evidence of climate change and that a significant portion of the change is anthropogenically driven. Leiserowitz et al. (2011b) asked teenagers about their understanding of the climate system and the causes of climate change. Fewer than 20% of respondents classified themselves as “very well informed” and only 27% reported that they learned “a lot” about climate change in school. However, of these teenagers, 70% expressed a desire for more climate change education. Even though the idea of human impacts on the climate system and a changing climate have been known and discussed within science education for several decades, dedicating classroom time for teaching climate change is not a common practice. Focus group discussions with science and agricultural education teachers (Pytlikzillig et al., 2013) emphasized the need for the use of locally relevant data in the classroom as a means to engage students in critical thinking activities that require them to use and draw conclusions from these data. However, most teachers do not have access to such data or a working knowledge of technological platforms from which they can have the students observe, manipulate, and analyze these data. This study used a mixed methods research design to explore the use of a GIS-based framework for teaching climate change. A two-part intervention was used: 1) teacher training, and 2) classroom implementation. Student-, teacher-, and classroom-centered data were collected to address student outcomes, teacher perceptions of GIS use in teaching climate change, and both students’ and teachers’ perceptions of challenges and successes of using GIS in the classroom. Students showed an overall positive growth in knowledge. Teachers shared a positive perception regarding the use of GIS to teach climate change, going so far as to report that they will all continue to teach climate change and use GIS in their classrooms. Successes and challenges were observed in classrooms, recognizing the benefits of student engagement and learning, as well as the challenges of using technology and supporting student needs. This exploratory research supports the premise that using a GIS-based framework to teach climate change is practical, reproducible, and effective.

<p> This thesis explores the question: can an ecocritical approach to environmental virtue ethics (EVE) in undergraduate climate change education inform students' understanding of the ethical issues of climate change and promote environmental responsibility and action? Philosophical theories of virtue ethics will be discussed from an historical perspective as well as to its renewal in the 20^th century, especially within the context of the wicked dimensions of the climate change crisis. Dominant themes in climate change ethics including concerns over the scientific complexity, global dimensions, temporal issues, intergenerational fairness and responsibility, justice, and human rights will be presented and used to devise a compendium of climate change virtues and vices. Environmental and climate change education research will be reviewed as well as the reasons for its failure to produce a substantial shift in attitudes and behavior of people especially in the global North will be deliberated. Ecocriticism, which studies the relationship between literature and visual and audial art will be explored, and a novel curriculum based on theoretical elements from climate change virtue ethics and supported with examples of the ecocritical arts will be proposed. It is my belief that an interdisciplinary framework supported and illustrated by climate change ecocriticism from any and all of the literary, visual, audial, and performance arts will create deeper understandings of climate change complexity.</p>

abstract: As climate change becomes a greater challenge in today's society, it is critical to understand young people's perceptions of the phenomenon because they will become the next generation of decision-makers. This study examines knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among high school students. The subjects of this study include students from high school science classes in Phoenix, Arizona, and Plainfield, Illinois. Using surveys and small group interviews to engage students in two climatically different locations, three questions were answered: 1) What do American students know and believe about climate change? How is knowledge related to beliefs? 2) What types of behaviors are students exhibiting that may affect climate change? How do beliefs relate to behavioral choices? 3) Do climate change knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors vary between geographic locations in the United States? The results of this study begin to highlight the differences between knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors around the United States. First, results showed that students have heard of climate change but often confused aspects of the problem, and they tended to focus on causes and impacts, as opposed to solutions. Related to beliefs, students tended to believe that climate change is caused by both humans and natural trends, and would affect plant and animal species more than themselves and their families. Second, students were most likely to participate in individual behaviors such as turning off lights and electronics, and least likely to take public transportation and eat a vegetarian meal. Individual behaviors seem to be most relevant to this age group, in contrast to policy solutions. Third, students in Illinois felt they would be more likely to experience colder temperatures and more precipitation than those in Arizona, where students were more concerned about rising temperatures. Understanding behaviors, motivations behind beliefs and choices, and barriers to actions can support pro-environmental behavior change. Educational strategies can be employed to more effectively account for the influences on a young person's belief formation and behavior choices. Providing engagement opportunities with location-specific solutions that are more feasible for youth to participate in on their own could also support efforts for behavior change. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Sustainability 2015

Climate change science is complex and controversial in nature, yet seen by educators and policy makers as an important topic to be taught within secondary science education. This is becoming increasingly evident with the inclusion of climate change into the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Earth and Space Sciences as well as Life Science courses (NGSS, 2013). An overwhelming amount of information is available to students; however, it is often misrepresented, politically inflated and falsified, and littered with misconceptions (Dawson & Carson, 2014; Gayford, 2002). It is critical to engage students in discourse that challenges them ethically in order for students to become more informed citizens, be able to develop skills necessary to take part in democratic discourse, and cultivate resolution (Gore, 1999; Lockwood & Harris, 1985; Reitano, Kivunja, & Porter, 2008) Teacher’s personal beliefs about the instruction of climate change within science education are unclear (Gayford, 2002). The presence of controversy can influence teachers’ instructional decisions and cause confusion about the science of climate change and many teachers may fear objection from community members (Maibach, Roser-Renouf, & Leiserowitz, 2008). Therefore, we must consider the role of teachers’ beliefs when examining their classroom instruction (Kagan, 1992; Nespor, 1987). This research study examines the complex nature of science teacher beliefs about climate change, their instructional practice in the marine science classroom, and the impacts on student outcomes. The study takes place within four marine science classrooms over the course of one semester. The teachers taking part in the study and their respective students are representative participants of the greater school district. The purpose of this study was to better understand teachers’ understandings and beliefs about climate change, and how individuals feel their beliefs impact instructional practices. Teacher and student data were collected from classroom observations, surveys, interviews, and a comprehensive midterm exam of the content. The qualitative and quantitative data collected were analyzed and compared through a fully mixed methods approach by which the findings of both types of data were compared and contrasted to triangulate findings. Findings from the study suggest teachers have strong beliefs about the causes and implications of climate change, they have high levels of concern for the impacts it will have on future generations, and value the topic as a necessary component of science education. However, this study revealed the controversial nature of the topic, current political climate, and potential resistance from stakeholders inhibited teachers from espousing these beliefs within their instruction of the curriculum. Results from the study found teachers’ personal beliefs had essentially no impacts on their classroom instruction or resulting student outcomes

In face of the climate crisis, educational responses aim at raising awareness, fostering knowledge, and encouraging theengagement of the general public. Climate change education plays an important role in the necessary individual andsocietal transformations. Playful and game-based educational approaches are increasingly used. They hold the promiseto overcome the challenges and limits of mainstream approaches. This thesis explores the case of Climate Fresk, arecently created game-based workshop, based on the latest IPCC report, which pledges to push the world into transitionby providing a better understanding and fostering action and engagement to its participants. The present researchconsists of a formative evaluation of Climate Fresk in Sweden. A framework of successful game-based approaches forclimate change education was established and guided the evaluation of Climate Fresk. After defining the intendedoutcomes of the workshops, through a focus group and interviews with the Climate Fresk facilitators, an evaluation ofthe extent to which these outcomes were achieved was carried out by interviewing thirty participants. Twoquestionnaires were used: one for the participants who had just taken part in a workshop; another for players severalmonths after their participation. The results confirmed the integration of the game-based climate change educationfeatures of the framework to a large extent. The intended outcomes, as formulated by the facilitators, about climateunderstanding, thinking skills, attitudes, emotions, engagement, were achieved to a certain degree. Increasedunderstanding of climate change and system thinking was gained for a large majority of the participants. The findingsshow that there is scope for improvement. The data collected from the players who participated several months agoshow that Climate Fresk does not solidly lead to engagement and action. Recommendations are proposed for theClimate Fresk facilitators and organisers to enhance the impact of the workshop on its participants, while fostering Climate Fresk’s capacity for change.

Climate change is already affecting communities around the world and the impacts will only get worse, according to scientists, unless we significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  These realities can lead to climate anxiety, not least among youth.  How can teachers educate students about climate change in a constructive way?  This study examines pedagogical reflections from grade school and gymnasium teachers who participated in a professional development workshop entitled “Climate workshop with a bright horizon” organized by The House of Science, the Bolin Center for Climate Research, and Stockholm City.  To address students’ climate anxiety, research says that teaching methods characterized by pluralism, democratic participation, and authenticity can be empowering to students in helping them to engage, act, and cope with unpredictability.  This study identifies opportunities to strengthen these aspects in climate education by, for example, using socio-scientific issue dialogues.

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To fight climate change, people need to change their behaviours towards emitting fewer greenhouse gases and build a system that is resilient towards the future shocks that climate change will create. Education can be seen as a key factor in behaviour change. Climate change education, in particular, provides people with the knowledge they need to transition towards a more sustainable state. Education does not only involve giving people information on natural and social systems, though: Since climate change can potentially threaten life on earth, it evokes strong emotional responses, such as depression and helplessness. When students feel that they cannot do anything about climate change, when they feel hopeless and pessimistic, they are less likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. Even if they have adequate knowledge of what to do. This constitutes the gap between cognitive and emotional learning where I enter with my study. With an online survey addressed to German grammar school pupils and university students (N = 438), I examine how the design of content on climate change can influence the perception of content. I used techniques of presenting content from Constructive Journalism to write five short texts on climate change for half of the participants. The other half represented a control group that read texts using the opposite of these constructive techniques of presenting. The participants answered questions regarding the two dimensions of learning: cognitive, and emotional. Within the emotional dimension, I asked students about their feelings of engagement, hope, depression, self-efficacy, and collective efficacy toward climate change. Constructive techniques of presenting content influence mainly the emotional dimension of learning, not the cognitive dimension and not the feeling of cognitive engagement either. The study showed, however, that if students understand the challenges of climate change well, they showed to be more prone toward feelings of depression. Teachers can engage with these negative feelings by including such framings as solutions-orientation, community-orientation, or long-term trends. While keeping cognitive learning and engagement at the same level, teachers can increase the positive emotions students have towards the content by designing it constructively. This study provides a way to encourage behavioural change in young people that is easier than transforming the entire global educational system. The insights can also be used for the broader public. Empowering people through information can inspire them to take action for mitigation and adaptation.