North of Tyne, in England, plans to become the first place in the world to have a UN-accredited climate change teacher in every state primary and secondary school.
According to the mayor, Jamie Driscoll every school in the area would have the opportunity to train a member of staff to give lessons on global heating and the impact of the climate crisis. The region is working with the creators of EduCCate Global, a UN teacher training scheme.
“Pupils also need to be aware of possible climate change mitigation strategies and adaptation measures. Completing the course will give teachers the confidence, both in their own understanding and in their position as a UN-accredited authority, to teach children effectively”, says Dr Meryl Batchelder, a teacher at Corbridge middle school in Northumberland who is leading the project.
The online course for teachers takes 15-20 hours to complete and covers areas such as climate change science, adaptation planning, health, forests, climate change finance and international negotiations.
