Teaching about Climate Change in India

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In India, how many policymakers, curriculum planners and developers, educators, and teachers have heard of “climate change education” (CCE)? How many of them can discuss its significance or believe it is necessary to include CCE in the school curriculum? The answer is, very few.

India ranked last among 180 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022, which measures countries’ environmental health and sustainability. Is it bothering us in any way? No, we have been unaffected by such reports because we believe that climate change is not our concern and nor do our television networks consider the climate crisis to be a topic worth reporting. As a result, our educational system places insufficient emphasis on climate change education and lacks a climate change curriculum; but how urgent is it to discuss climate action in classrooms?

In a recent conversation with Anoop Singh Bishnoi, he expressed his concerns and said, “Unfortunately, India does not appear to understand the importance and urgency of this crisis. Teachers should educate students about the climate crisis and the importance of environmental health (clean air, safe chemical use, sound agricultural practices, radiation protection, and so on), and encourage them to take positive steps to become climate action enthusiasts. This planet belongs to all of us, and if we do not care who will?”

According to EPI 2022, the primary reasons for India’s low score are deteriorating air quality and rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. According to another report, India has 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, and air pollution kills over 16 lakh people each year. Anoop further adds, “In this context, it is necessary to explain to students, in simple terms, the policies and actions of national and international conventions that work in tandem. It is also critical to bring climate activists and enthusiasts to schools and encourage students to interact with them. Such interactions may inspire some students to get involved in climate action.”

Location: India

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