request our brochure

People are missing climate education in school — and don’t feel prepared for green jobs

January 14, 2022

According to a recent survey conducted by Pearson, people are rushing to make up ground with more education and training to address the global effects. 5,000 people in five countries were asked how much education they’ve had on climate change. The results are clear: not enough. 

“While many people told us their education included basic climate subjects like “the weather,” there is an increasing need for deeper environmental and climate knowledge, especially with many industries expecting significant growth in green jobs over the next 10 years”, the study says.

The research found that most responders are actively trying to learn more about climate issues because they didn’t learn enough about those topics in school.

They believe that, more than ever, schools have a responsibility to teach students about climate and environmental issues, which is not adequately done. The majority of people also say climate education needs to start early.

As a result, because of the climate education gap, people don’t feel prepared for green jobs. They agree that their countries need to do more to equip students with skills for green jobs, providing workers with access to subsidized training and achieving a positive environmental impact with their careers.

“To shift from a global economy that extracts and degrades to one that is reciprocal and sustainable, we must start with education”, the report concludes.

The highlights:

  • 77% are actively trying to learn more about climate issues because they didn’t learn enough about those topics in school.
  • 88% believe schools have a responsibility to teach students about climate and environmental issues.
  • 76% believe that children should start learning about climate change in primary school or earlier.
  • 89% believe the education system in their country needs to do more to equip students with skills for green jobs.
  • 72% believe career opportunities in green jobs will increase over the next 10 years.

—-

Source: Pearson Global Learner Survey