There is no longer a need to make the case for taking action against climate change. We are seeing distressing photos of bushfires, floods, or a huge extinction crisis virtually every day. However prevalent that sense of urgency may be, our country is having trouble coming up with a meaningful, well-coordinated response.
“Whether it’s decarbonization, health, or the environment, all subjects related to one’s better living are interlinked to climate, and for one to understand them, some kind of knowledge is necessary. However, this knowledge must be translated and spread through education in order to be useful. Climate education is therefore essential for tackling climate change as well as for young people to live sensibly,” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun. “For education to leave an impact on a child’s understanding of others and the planet, the learning must be shaped in such a way that they could relate to it and for that our teachers also need support. Children learn better when the teachers have access to the right knowledge, cutting-edge teaching resources, and motivational learning materials that explain why and how the globe is warming, what is the problem we’re facing, and what can be done to stop it.” he adds further.
India currently lacks a curriculum on climate change. It’s only through the medium of environmental studies, students are introduced to topics like sustainability and crises. Environmental studies is a compulsory subject in schools and universities, but it only covers limited information which is often redundant and repetitive. Given that India is anticipated to see substantial urbanization and population increase over the next few decades, teaching about climate change is of the utmost importance in this country at present. If only, children are made to understand the impact and negative effects of unsustainable growth, they will make efforts to lead more environmentally friendly lives.
However, like every coin has two sides, there are people who still think that we don’t need a separate curriculum for climate education. The reason being, the topics like climate change and associated issues like the biodiversity crisis and ecological justice, although are very crucial to comprehend, are difficult and abstract, and that simply preaching moral lessons or providing definitions for them would be insufficient, therefore whatever one learns at school must incorporate these ideas and concerns, rather than just learning about the environment in a classified subject.
There are further difficulties. The huge funding gaps between posh private schools and underfunded government schools make it even more challenging to integrate climate teaching into all subjects. The reality Is that many underprivileged schools in India cannot afford to provide outside time and practical exercises.
Therefore whichever side one stands on, it’s clear that we definitely need climate education but it of course requires more than just a school curriculum. “Instead of focusing on just one or two facets of sustainability, environment conservation, and climate education should take a 360-degree perspective. Additionally, rather than being done as a one-time exercise, it should be carried out as a planned program sprinkled throughout the academic year. Not only schools, one should practice sensible living at home and talk about it with others as well. Only through a joint effort we can reach where we want to – in being a community of conscious citizens,” says Anoop.
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