{"id":626,"date":"2022-12-16T11:06:44","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T16:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/?post_type=chapter&p=626"},"modified":"2024-04-08T10:10:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T14:10:05","slug":"recommendations-for-increasing-resiliency-of-our-youth","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/chapter\/recommendations-for-increasing-resiliency-of-our-youth\/","title":{"raw":"Recommendations for Increasing Youth Resilience","rendered":"Recommendations for Increasing Youth Resilience"},"content":{"raw":"

Young people will disproportionately bear the burden of the accelerating processes of environmental breakdown.64<\/a><\/sup> This section outlines several recommendations for increasing the resilience of our youth to climate change-related events through education improvement, relationship building and mentorship, increased youth participation in governance, and community-action-based projects.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/xs2C4P0dca8[\/embed]\r\n\r\nKate Feldman discusses the role of youth leadership in climate action and the importance of focusing on local (1:38)\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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<\/a>Recommendation 50<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Make strategic investments to strengthen the involvement of children and youth in responding to climate change and ecosystem disruption through research, education and leadership opportunities<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\r\n<\/header><\/div>\r\n

Climate Change Education\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n

Why is Climate Education Important?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\r\n

There has been an established need for a greater emphasis on the environmental curriculum in BC\u2019s education systems. In order to fully support the role of youth engagement in climate action, proper delivery of environmental knowledge in the education system is vital to allow youth to make informed decisions regarding their environmental behaviour. By providing youth with increased access to adequate environmental education, they are simultaneously encouraged to explore actionable steps in resilience and adaptability while facing the effects of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Current State of BC\u2019s Climate Change Curriculum<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\r\n

Delivery of school curriculum in Canada is determined at the provincial level, with each province incorporating\u00a0 environmental education into their curriculum to varying extents.65<\/a><\/sup> An analysis of climate change curriculum in Canada indicated that there are six core topics each province covers at differing degrees.66<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0These topics are:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. Physical climate mechanism<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Observed increase in temperatures<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Anthropogenic causes<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Scientific consensus<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Negative associations with warming<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  6. Possibility for avoiding worse effects65<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Climate curriculum in BC narrowly focuses on half of the above topics, integrating only topics one, three, and five into the curriculum.65<\/a><\/sup> In order to provide youth with a profound knowledge base regarding climate change, it is suggested that the curriculum be delivered with greater emphasis on full coverage.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In moving beyond climate and environmental awareness, social learning, and place-based pedagogies have been found to be critical aspects in supporting delivery of climate change education.67<\/a><\/sup> Research suggests that to improve delivery of climate education, social, and emotional elements of successful learning should be taken into consideration and centred upon cognitive, socio-emotional, action-orientated, and justice-forward education strategies.67<\/a><\/sup> Implementation of these strategies in classrooms will improve student engagement by bolstering the agency and empowerment of youth.68<\/a><\/sup> Thus, it is important to acknowledge that the delivery of climate change education is just as important as the curriculum.68<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    <\/a>Recommendation 51<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Ensure access to comprehensive climate change and ecosystem disruption curriculum, with a focus on positive solutions for the future, for children and youth<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\r\n<\/header><\/div>\r\n

    Recommendations for Education Improvement<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\r\n

    Specific recommendations for improving climate change education in school systems include:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n