The Scottish government should make climate change “a compulsory subject from primary and into high school”, according to a panel set up to support the work of a Scottish Parliament committee.
The Climate Change People’s Panel - launched to assess how effective the government has been at engaging the public on climate change and what more can be done - published its report today.
The panel, which consists of 23 members of the public selected at random, makes 18 recommendations and its first is that all children should be educated about climate change in school.
The report says the government should “ensure that all pupils gain a basic understanding of climate change, energy production, global concerns and green job opportunities”.
Climate change awareness in schools
Children should be involved in developing climate change as a subject in a bid to raise awareness and to enable them to “engage and talk to/influence their parents and help change within the home and at a local level”.
The people’s panel was set up to support the Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee as it scrutinises legislation that requires the Scottish government to produce and periodically review a public engagement strategy for climate change.
The panel’s report says the Scottish government “could be more ambitious, delivering a positive narrative and enabling Scotland to set a standard of excellence”, arguing that it has not communicated with the public effectively enough on climate change.
The panel says “collaboration with expert local and community-led organisations is key”, adding that there is an “inconsistency in communication, education, evaluation and the allocation of funding and, ultimately, there is an action gap across Scotland”.
The panel is due to formally present its report to the NZET Committee on Tuesday 16 April.
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