UK Government Launched Its Sustainability And Climate Change Strategy With New Natural History GCSE.

The UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi announced a program detailing how the UK education sector is to become a world leader in climate change by 2030. The project was launched as part of the government’s flagship Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

The new Natural History qualification will enable young people to explore and gain a deeper knowledge of the natural world around them. The students will learn about organisms and environments, environmental and sustainability issues. They will develop the skills to help them carve a future career in the natural world as sustained and structured field study.

The government confirmed its plans to accelerate the launch of carbon literacy training to support at least one sustainability lead in every locally maintained education centre such as nursery, school, college and university in order to develop climate action plans. The training will drive activity to improve climate education, put in place measures to protect communities against the effects of climate change, and increase climate resilience through different adaptation initiatives.

The Education Secretary pledged support for teaching climate change at all levels at schools. Also, by 2023 there will be new requirements for further education teachers to build sustainability into their teaching.

Young people will also be able to bolster their environmental education gained in existing subjects, including changes to landscapes and urbanisation in geography, and habitats and ecosystems in science.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: "We are delivering a better, safer, greener world for future generations and education is one of our key weapons in the fight against climate change. The entrepreneurial, can-do spirit of this country makes me confident that we will win this fight.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that young people are already very committed to a more sustainable planet. We should be proud of this, and I want to do everything I can to encourage this passion so they can be agents of change in protecting our planet.

The new natural history GCSE will offer young people a chance to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of this amazing planet, its environment and how we can come together to conserve it."

The government pledged for a rebuilding programme, to be cleaner, greener and net-zero in operation. There will be ultra-low carbon education buildings for schools. And by 2025 at least four schools and one college will have been built via the Gen Zero Platform.

The National Education Nature Park will help children and young people to get more involved in the natural world. It will help the increase of biodiversity in the grounds of their nursery, school, or college by them taking small steps, such as installing bird feeders and ‘bug hotels’. Teachers will be provided with free, high-quality climate education resources as part of the Nature Park hub.

The government also launched a new Climate Award for young people. The Climate Award will be given in recognition for their work to improve their environment during an annual prestigious national awards ceremony. The Climate Leaders Award will help children and young people develop their skills and knowledge in biodiversity and sustainability.