Introduction to Teaching Sustainability and Climate Action

Explore new teaching and learning approaches to climate change education

On this four-week course from the University of Glasgow, you’ll delve into the role of education in addressing the current climate crisis.

You’ll be introduced to the concept of ecopedagogy, and examine how this approach can transform Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

Using innovative strategies, you’ll discover how to develop a curriculum that encourages socially responsible learners who actively engage with climate action.

Examine the need for climate action

Beginning with a look at the social context of climate change, you’ll develop your understanding of the climate crisis and the need for systemic and individual change to climate responses.

You’ll learn the causes and consequences of climate change and understand the call for new educational approaches to climate action.

Explore the role of education in addressing the climate emergency

Mainstream educational models have often left little space for addressing environmental issues within the curriculum.

Using ecopedagogy as your overarching approach, you’ll explore how to raise ecological awareness and help propel a cultural shift that addresses the climate crisis in and beyond your classroom.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to help your learners become ecologically literate, active agents in the fight against climate change.

Develop course materials that address the climate emergency

Reflecting on real-world examples of ecopedagogy, you’ll discover the additional benefits of eco-capabilities development on student mental health and well-being.

You’ll finish this course with an awareness of ecopedagogy and developed strategies to use its principles in practice to engage your students and drive social responsibility for sustainability and climate action.

This course is designed for teachers at all levels from early years to upper secondary who wish to learn how to embed climate literacy and education into their curriculum.

It will also benefit activists, environmental education professionals, NGO managers, school governors, and home-schooling parents who wish to engage with ecopedagogy principles.

• Course introduction
• Welcome!
• Perspectives on climate change
• Climate change's social context
• Week 1 summary
• Understanding climate action
• Week 2 introduction
• Climate Action Spheres
• Climate Actors
• Week 2 summary
• Introducing Ecopedagogy
• Week 3 introduction
• The Purpose Education
• Enacting Ecopedagogy
• Week 3 summary
• Ecopedagogy in practice
• Week 4 introduction
• Ecopedagogy in Action
• Real-world Ecopedagogy
• Week 4 and course summary