ERIC Number: EJ1405648
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1350-4622
EISSN: EISSN-1469-5871
Narratives and Impacts of Formal Climate Education Experienced by Young Climate Activists
Sally Neas
Environmental Education Research, v29 n12 p1832-1848 2023
Education has recently gained new attention as a key strategy for addressing climate change. Much of these efforts are aimed at young people via formalized climate change education. At the same time, young people are increasingly engaging with climate change via activism and social movement participation. But to what extent does existent climate education actually supporting action? This research article addresses this question through oral histories with young climate activists to explore their experiences of climate education. These narratives reveal that most young activists learned about climate change through formal, school-based science learning. The pedagogies that these youth experienced framed climate change as an abstract, scientific issue, removed from daily life. However, this framing failed to address the political and justice-related aspects of climate change, as well as strategies for addressing it. The impact of the pedagogies is that youth were immobilized and experienced panic and dread about climate change. The implications of these findings are discussed, including recommendations for climate pedagogies that support substantive climate action.
Descriptors: Climate, Environmental Education, Activism, Educational Experience, Political Issues, Social Justice, Teaching Methods, Course Content, Knowledge Level, Emotional Response
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (San Francisco)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A