Young people have questions about the climate crisis. They have ideas.
They want to talk.
It all starts with a conversation...
Cambridge has developed a free discussion guide, created with the Climate Psychology Alliance, to help teachers around the world hold and navigate climate change conversations with their students. Wherever and whenever they happen. Because talking about climate change, and our responses to it, is one of the most powerful things we can do.
By empowering young people with the skills and knowledge to take action on climate change, we can help them be ready for the world.
Cambridge Climate Change Education Framework
The Cambridge Climate Change Education Framework is built around four dimensions of learning: understanding, evaluating, responding and caring. Caring is at the heart of this new discussion guide. It recognises that before students can act on what they know about the climate crisis, they need to process how they feel about it. And that means teachers need to be equipped and supported to help them do that.
Why this matters
For your students
Young people are already aware of the climate crisis. They are living it, and it can provoke a whole range of emotional responses – from apathy and anxiety to hope and action. Quality climate change conversations make space for these emotions. When students feel heard and connected to others, they believe that positive change is possible.
For you
You do not need to be a climate scientist. You do not need a perfect lesson plan or all the answers. What matters is that you create the conditions for the conversation to happen. When you are emotionally open and ready to talk, you show your students that feelings are not a distraction from learning. They are part of learning.
For your school
Schools that build a culture of open, honest dialogue about the climate crisis inspire students to think, to care, and to act. Together, we can make those conversations happen everywhere.
Complete the form to download your free discussion guide
How to take part
Making space for climate change conversations is simple:
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Download the free discussion guide
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Use it with your class – in a lesson, at the start of a session, during a conversation in the corridor – wherever it fits
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Share your experience – tag us on social media and show the world that your school is making space for climate change conversations – use #ClimateChangeConversations
Amplifying student voices and developing their critical, creative and communication skills is key to finding solutions to the climate crisis. We want to inspire and empower learners to solve problems by considering the challenge from different perspectives – global and local.
The Climate Psychology Alliance is network of psychotherapists and psychologists, other mental health professionals, researchers and artists who have developed useful knowledge and practices to support everyone seeking to act on the collective challenge of climate change.