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2025 got off to a frantic start. It seems that hardly a day goes by without a major news story breaking…tariffs, ceasefire negotiations and inedible school lunches! But there has also been plenty of action on the climate change education front.

Although the current government may not be prioritising cuts in carbon emissions, around the world climate change education and the anxiety that students feel are being recognised. In this newsletter you will see links to curricula and resources from early childhood through to university level and look at the steps being taken here in New Zealand.

ACEC represents a broad group of individuals and organisations working across climate change education. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more or make sure we are connecting with your networks.

To help you fight climate change myths

The Climate Council of Australia have created an easy-to-read guide to help you respond to climate disinformation calmly and effectively.

To help with climate anxiety

The Climate Council of Australia has also recently released a guide to managing climate anxiety. It is Australia-based but looks useful and easy to digest.

Cyclone impacts young people in Australia

Many children in Queensland and northern New South Wales have had their lives disrupted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. This research describes their experiences and the support that these children needed, especially hugs.

Young and Invisible in a time of polycrisis: reframing the problem and finding solutions

Various experts have highlighted the old problem of children's and young people's invisibility when key decisions were taken in periods of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. They describe this as inexcusable given the disproportionate adverse effects of those decisions on children and young people compared to older people.

This open access article by Judith Bessant and Rob Watts explores this problem and offers practical ways that children and young people can be visible in formal decision-making sites.

Sustainability from the Start

A free online education for preschool teachers. There are eight modules to explore, each representing various dimensions of sustainable development. Each module includes 3-5 proposed activities to do with your children

Greening curriculum guidance: teaching and learning for climate action

This UNESCO book outlines a common language on how quality climate change and sustainability can be reflected in the curriculum by setting expected learning outcomes per age group (from 5 to 18 year olds). It aims to support countries, schools or individual practitioners in reassessing their ongoing practices to adopt a more action-oriented, holistic, scientifically accurate, justice-driven and lifelong learning approach to climate change.

University students struggle with climate anxiety

This research explores how students find that being in a class with other students who are experiencing anxiety, and having their feelings acknowledged can lessen this anxiety.

Global warming has accelerated

A video discussion, featuring Jim Hansen, discussing the current rates of global warming.

Govt targets new emissions cuts of as little as 1%

In a pledge described as ‘shockingly unambitious’, this falls far short of what other developed and even developing nations have committed to.

Climate literacy framework

Work is underway to develop this framework which will underpin future PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) rounds. Driven by the OECD, the framework is drawing on research and publications from around the world to create a set of competencies which can be tested through the assessments.

For more information, contact Chris Eames, chris.eames@waikato.ac.nz.

Rewilding the curriculum

A GCSE (Year 10) in natural history has been given the go-ahead by the UK government, paving the way for children to “understand and protect the nature on their doorstep and beyond”. A good news story.

Apocalyptic Optimism

But maybe we have to have more bad news before we take real action. This article suggests that apocalyptic optimism could be the antidote for climate fatalism.

Climate-related school disruptions

This article looks at the vital role of schools for children and their families when their lives have been turned upside down by climate change events.

Social Sciences Conference (SOCCON) Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, April 14-16

Keynote: Professor Bronwyn Hayward, “Defending Democracy: Social science education, climate change and social cohesion”

Workshops with a climate education focus:

• Using the refreshed social science curriculum to equip and empower rangatahi: the Porirua climate assembly - Conor Twyford & Michele Whiting

• Educating critical citizens to take climate action - Jeeva Jacob

• Education for Sustainability - Equipping Learners to be Critical Thinkers, leaders & change makers - Michelle Harvey

• He Kaupapa Tūmanako Collective: Grounding Education in Practices of Hope - Nicolette "Nicki" Trueman & Vanny Huang 

• Fostering participatory space for young people: introducing He Whatu Rangatahi - Maria Perreau, Joanne Waitoa & Bronwyn Wood

• Resilient Schools and Communities: Local Leadership and Actions for Disaster Resilience - Graham Leonard

• Tūhura Papatūānuku: a noho marae based earth and environmental sciences wānanga - Joanne Murray, Joe Prebble, Selena Bercic & Georgia Grant

There are also a number of workshops on offer with a focus on using GIS in geography teaching.

Register: https://confer.eventsair.com/soccon-2025/

Programme: https://confer.eventsair.com/soccon-2025/programme 

Climate and mental health talk, Hope without Hiding, in Wellington, April 29th

Silvia Purdie and Prof James Renwick will be talking about Sustaining Optimism and Courage.

St Peters on Willis, Wellington. 5:00-6:30pm Koha entry.

Plus, come out for dinner afterwards!

Please forward on this email to your Wellington friends & relations!

Registration link: https://www.climatementalhealth.nz/renwick-event.html

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