Blog post

UCL report supports Teach The Future’s call for interdisciplinary and action-focused climate education

Charlotte
March 10, 2025
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UCL’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, in collaboration with the Council for Subject Associations and the Natural History Museum, have published a report on how best to embed sustainability into the education system. The report emphasises the need to make the climate and nature crises central to education, and the urgency of training to equip teachers to deliver sustainability teaching. 

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The suggestions align closely with Teach The Future’s own advocacy and the findings from the Shadow Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report.

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KEY RECOMMENDATIONS:

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  • An overarching, more ambitious and aspirational vision statement for the national curriculum to contribute towards a more sustainable future
  • The contribution of all subjects to climate and sustainability education
  • Interdisciplinary initiatives allowing learners to make connections between subjects to address key themes such as food, energy, and climate justice at a global and local scale
  • Raising awareness of the range of green career opportunities
  • High quality professional development about climate change and sustainability education for all teachers, tailored by subject and age phase
  • Subject associations should provide subject-specific guidance to teachers to support them in implementing climate and sustainability education

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The report highlighted the importance of pedagogies that encourage enquiry-based and action-focused learning. Students should be supported to develop skills in critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, empathy and debate. Education should be up-to-date and relevant to the digital era. For example, students should be equipped to recognise climate disinformation on the internet. The report promoted Teach the Future’s “Tracked Changes” project as a practical tool to support teachers on the ground to embed climate in their teaching. 

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Read the full report to find out more about the report’s recommendations.

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