Bangaya, Colin

Blum, Nicole

Education responses to climate change and quality: Two parts of the same agenda?

International Journal of Educational Development

30

4

Volume 30, Issue 4, July 2010, Pages

2010

359–368

Abstract

Increasing attention to climate change and the current global economic crisis has underscored the need for approaches to education that equip and empower people of all ages to deal with uncertain environmental, economic and political futures. A range of educational and research initiatives already exist which could support this aim, however, policy and discussion continue to focus on technical solutions or ′knowledge transfer′ without seriously engaging with the content of education. This paper suggests that education responses are needed which attend to provision of both appropriate educational infrastructure and relevant knowledge and skills. It also explores the connections between education for sustainable development (ESD) and education quality, and argues that these frameworks already support potentially effective education responses to climate change.

1. Introduction
2. Climate change and environment – impact and response
3. Climate/environmental change and education – supply, demand and learning implications
4. Education – a critical element in the response to the challenges of climate change
5. Education, environmental learning and development agendas
6. Educational responses to climate change

6.1. Climate proofing education infrastructure
6.2. Re-orienting education
6.2.1. Knowledge of climate change and wider environmental processes
6.2.2. Knowledge of local environmental conditions, associated risks and management strategies
6.2.3. Disaster risk reduction
6.3. Challenges to implementation

7. Conclusions
References