Climate change

Climate change and the denial of its existence have received minimal attention in literacy and social studies education. This book aims to fill that void by introducing the Climate Denial Inquiry Model (CDIM) and providing practical examples for educators and students to tackle both forms of climate denial: denial of scientific evidence and denial of the need for action.

Damico, J. S., & Baildon, M. (2022). How to confront climate denial: Literacy, social studies, and climate change. Teachers College Press.

“A cross-curricular, nine-chapter inquiry resource to support climate change education for students in grades 7-12 across Canada” (source).

Stevens, J., & Acton, K. (2020). Empowering learners in a warming world: A climate change inquiry guide for 7-12 teachers. Learning for a Sustainable Future.

LSF's latest climate change survey aims to evaluate Canadians' awareness, comprehension, and attitudes toward climate change and its associated risks. Additionally, it seeks to investigate opinions regarding climate change education in Canada. This survey compares current findings with the 2019 benchmark survey and offers recommendations across all sectors to enhance climate education.

Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF). (2022). Canadians’ perspectives on climate change & education: 2022.

“The Climate Atlas of Canada is an interactive tool for citizens, researchers, businesses, and community and political leaders to learn about climate change in Canada. It combines climate science, mapping, and 

storytelling together with Indigenous Knowledges and community-based research and video to inspire awareness and action. The Atlas explains what climate change is, how it affects Canada and what these changes mean in our communities. Various aspects of climate change can be explored using maps, graphs and climate data for provinces, local regions and cities across the country. Plain-language description and analysis make climate science understandable and meaningful. Documentary videos, collaboratively developed with local and Indigenous knowledge holders as well as other experts, help make local sense of the global issue of climate change” (source). It also features educational resources.

Project Drawdown, focuses solely on solutions, reviews and assesses strategies to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, offering a science-based roadmap for climate action. The project's website features an evolving online library of solutions, categorized by sector and action area. Their publications and video series, Climate Solutions 101, continue to advance understanding and action on climate change. 

The book Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming is a groundbreaking text on climate solutions, synthesizing global science on practices and technologies to combat rising atmospheric carbon levels. It inspired an interactive quiz that could spark discussions in class.

Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. Penguin Books.

As part of the Annual Public Health Days on November 28, 2023, Carole Brazeau shares some Indigenous perspectives on specific challenges and solutions for addressing climate change and social inequalities in health.

Brazeau, C. (2023, November 23). Une perspective Autochtone [Conference presentation]. 26eme Journées annuelles de santé publique. Centre des congrès de Québec, Québec, Canada.

A platform for peer-to-peer learning, information exchange and sharing of best practices for teaching and learning about climate change. K-12 and Higher Ed with usable in class materials regrouped under themes through a searchable database. It is administered by the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN), Dr Louise Comeau.

How can you engage with someone who doubts the reality of climate change? Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe suggests that instead of repeating the same data and arguments, it's more effective to connect on shared values such as family, community, and religion. In her insightful talk, Hayhoe emphasizes the importance of fostering genuine discussions that help individuals recognize their existing concerns about a changing climate. She stresses the need to avoid despair and actively seek hope through dialogue, emphasizing that meaningful change starts with conversation, starting today.

Hayhoe, K. (2018, November). The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it [Video]. TED Conferences.