Climate change is one of the foremost challenges facing communities, economies and ecosystems in the 21st century. It is crucial that climate change is embedded into education from an early age to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills they will need throughout their lives. Research has shown that for many young people, climate change is a cause of great concern with increasing academic and public worries about eco-anxiety (Hickman et al., 2021). Climate education should go beyond merely encouraging pupils to reduce their own or their school’s carbon footprint. It should enable them to think of themselves as the future scientists, engineers, campaigners and people who can contribute positively to whatever career they choose, and who will bring about a more sustainable world.
Saddington et al. (2026) studied this question.