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In the past fortnight we have been thinking a lot about how education can help communities with the difficult discussions and decisions around adaptation and retreat, as we have been preparing our submission to the government inquiry that was mentioned in the last newsletter. 

The essence of our submission was that if community members have access to up-to-date, understandable data and perspectives AND the opportunity to actively participate in discussions, they are more likely to feel supported and understand the reasons for decisions and change. People who feel that they have more buy-in (or ‘agency’ to use an education-specific word) will put energy into innovative and creative solutions, rather than into opposition or resistance.

We know that individuals in our classrooms and our communities bring their own cultural and social knowledge and lived experience with them, and the skill of a good educator is to see this and use it as a starting point. 

ACEC is a coalition of like-minded organisations and individuals. We have joined together to think about how education can be used for good in a climate-changing Aotearoa New Zealand. We continue to connect with other community and flax-roots organisations who are providing education and support in these changing times, and who want to work towards a more coordinated approach.

Please get in touch if you would like to share plans and thoughts, or to make sure we are connecting with your networks.

Newsletters and Podcasts:

While we wait for a new government to form, we continue to see that nature is not waiting. We wanted to remind you of a few writers and resources that may be useful as we embark on more change.

Katharine Hayhoe

In her much-shared TED Talk from 2018, Katharine Hayhoe begins by saying that “the number one predictor of whether we agree that climate is changing, humans are responsible and the impacts are increasingly serious and even dangerous, has nothing to do with how much we know about science or even how smart we are but simply where we fall on the political spectrum.”

She reminds us that we have more in common with our neighbours than the differences that an election campaign can throw up. Rather than focussing on difference, we need to focus on shared values. 

• Are we both parents?

• Do we live in the same community?

• Do we enjoy the same outdoor activities?

• Do we care about the economy or national security?”

Katharine’s Substack Newsletter is also a good one, with regular sections on ‘the good’, the ‘not so good’ and ‘what you can do’. 

In a recent newsletter, the ‘What you can do’ section focussed on climate anxiety, and reminded readers to do something, anything, even if you think it's small. And don’t stop there; tell people about it! 

She gave an example of some word clouds in response to the statement: “when I say climate change, how do you feel?”, taken at the beginning and again at the end of a talk to a group. The impact is obvious, with the dominant word ‘worried’ replaced by ‘determined’ by the end.

Bicycle Model on Climate Change Education

We also wanted to remind you of this model from Finland, which explains that climate change is complex. Using a bicycle to describe climate change education, it talks through the many elements that need to work together to ensure constant motion.

Climate Education in Aotearoa:

Nurturing secondary students’ hope and agency: Educating to live in a climate-impacted world. A summary of this research, led by Sally Birdsall and Chris Eames has been published - scroll to the bottom of the page to get to the report. 

The NZAEE website has some great resources for both personal learning and teaching others. A few are:

• This webinar with Rachel Bolstad from NZCER and teachers Kate Armour and Brent Silby from Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. They talk about ideas, questions and opportunities to consider, and how it has looked in practice in the school. 

• Climate Change Learning Programme, developed by educator Sian Carvell in collaboration with national and local organisations.

Local News:

Para Kore has secured a grant from the Ministry for the Environment for a new food waste project.

Hei Aha te Moumou Kai is Para Kore's newest kaupapa and will combine face-to-face and online learning for whānau Māori and Māori organisations. The focus of the project is on upskilling participants with mātauranga and skills to prevent kai from going to landfill, which in turn produces methane - a global warming gas. 

Māori food sovereignty course with Jessica Hutchings

Jessica now has a course on the Earthed platform. If you have been wanting to boost your gardening skills, this course will give a uniquely Aotearoa perspective. It’s not free (Earthed is a nature skills platform and charity that is focussed on learning to grow) but you can choose a range of monthly memberships and cancel any time.

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