With the Biden administration rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, the topic of climate change is once again making headlines. Many environmentalists, including myself, are hopeful that the issues related to climate change will be attacked head-on and legislative action will be taken. The issue I seek to address in my brief is one relating to the topic of climate change and the education that is given about it. I hope to talk about incorporating educational classes of all levels within schools. Things such as health class or gym are made mandatory for students, presentations on bullying and sexual assault are given, and posters around campuses given info about the latest covid rules and regulations. Why can similar things not be done about climate change issues?
The cause of this problem is inadvertent in that there is unawareness about the urgency of climate change and an unwillingness to act due to ignorance. Many adults are now misinformed, disinformed, or uninformed about climate change and therefore do not take action, seek action, or teach others to act because they do not consider it to be an issue. If we can make individuals informed about environmental issues from a young age, then they will grow to be adults who are at the very least aware of a huge issue and rethink their actions.
I think the main policy instruments I will use are capacity builders and system changes. The main purpose of this brief is to seek out giving more education on environmental topics such as climate age. This can be as simple as hanging posters in the classroom, having an environmental day, or inviting environmental activists to speak. However, I think it can be important to consider reforming the education system in the sense that teaching about climate change should be as much of a priority as learning about sexual education. I understand many do not think those two are on the same level of importance, but that is where the issue lies. Teaching kids about climate change is more than just teaching students about reduce, reuse, and recycling. It is about having a global perspective, having empathy, being informed about current events, and even about social injustices.
I like this idea, and I like that you are specifically focusing on education. You bring up a good point that we have health classes and such, but there isn’t an environmental class This would be a solution that could be implemented relatively quickly, which is great cause that’s the whole point of the issue brief. I like all of your ideas and I think you should have a section in the brief dedicated to how people are misinformed, uninformed, and disinformed about the issue.
Thank you for the feedback! I have always thought about why environmentalism isn’t more openly taught or mandated in schools so it is reassuring to know these questions I had were not just crazy. I will definitely look more into how people are mis/un/dis-informed because that was something I said intuitively. I am interested in seeing the actual stats behind this!
I love your idea! Global climate change is an appropriate policy discussion due to all the recent news about the topic. The issue is an expansive topic, but it appears that you have been able to narrow your margins, which will help you develop a concise issue brief. I also like your emphasis on education because not enough people consider environmental education as important or relevant. If we don’t start influencing upcoming generations, then how are we going to resolve global climate change later? Awesome job and keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! I definitely agree climate change is very expansive… and that entire courses could be made to teach people about it… but I am glad the idea of combining it with education seems a more doable focus! Your last rhetorical question is one I always ask myself and is what is motivating me in creating this Issue Brief!
Climate change is a great idea for your brief! I thought it was interesting how you compared it to topics that are often mandatory in schools, and it really is surprising that climate change is not taught about more. I think you have a great setup with the cause being inadvertent and the main policy instruments are system change and capacity builders. I’d love to see your brief being passed onto educators or education board members to can hopefully incorporate climate change in the curriculum.
Thank you!! Honestly, those comparisons were something I have always had in the back of my head, and when putting them into writing here, it really made me ponder. Passing it onto educators and education board members sounds like a great idea and I think I will end up doing just that!