COP26 COUNTDOWN
Starting October 31, more than 190 world leaders will gather for twelve days of talks to accelerate and inspire action on ambitious goals to reach net zero by the middle of this century. It’s about uniting the world to tackle the climate crisis, one of the top challenges of our time.
Now’s the time to support and encourage climate literacy so kids everywhere can have the environmental education necessary to become engaged environmental stewards.
And you—we—can be a part of it. How?
Below, find our growing list of open source Climate Literacy Tips and related Resources we've made available to help you promote and support climate literacy in your families, classrooms, and communities. Feel free to download the images and share!
Together for our planet. We can all make a difference.
Follow our COP26 Countdown campaign on social media! @bluedotkidspress
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #1
Kids can be part of the solution! Help protect wildlife and ease the effects of climate change with Citizen Science. Learn more and take action using this “Crazy About Birds! The High-Flying Guide to Citizen Science Projects for Kids Who Love Birds” Kit.
For further info and community-building, follow @celebratebirds, @journeynorthorg, and @Feederwatch on Twitter, and @audubonsociety on Instagram!
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #2
Turn an unused part of your school campus, or backyard, into a pollinator garden. Pollinator gardens attract butterflies and other insects that help promote plant health and biodiversity (and make your school and backyard look great too!).
Interested, but unsure where to start? We recommend this Edutopia article, "Bringing the Natural World To Students With a Pollinator Garden." Contains links to great guides on how to organize your project!
Plus, connect with the community on Instagram @pollinatorpartnership, a nonprofit dedicated to pollinator health and education!
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #3
What happens to your recycling? Explore the recycling options in your area with your students or children. Are there sorting centers where you can bring your glass, plastic and paper products to give these materials a better chance of being recycled? Does your grocery store accept bottle returns? Can you turn your plastic waste into something new?
Check out the resources made available by one amazing company Precious Plastic! This entrepreneurial group of people has taken plastic recycling into their own hands. Follow @realpreciousplastic on Instagram or explore their website to learn about plastic, innovative recycling, and community-driven change near you!
Illustrations by Laura Fanelli (Our World Out of Balance)
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #4
Our friends @science_moms suggest that if you want your kids to learn about the planet and their future, make sure they’re getting the real low-down on climate change at their school. Contact your school board to show your interest and find out!
Want to learn more about climate literacy? Follow these thought leaders:
Illustrations by Laura Fanelli (Our World Out of Balance)
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #5
Talk with kids about the role of government, civic action, and activism—with facts!
To discuss the Paris Agreement and why it’s important as we countdown to COP26, check out this great resource for 8 to 12 year-olds from UNICEF: “The Paris Agreement for Young People.”
Plus, follow youth climate activists to learn about organizing, leadership, and how to share clear messages for change!
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #6
Caring for nature starts by developing an appreciation for nature. Invite author/artist Christina Booth of Welcome Home, Whales to your library or classroom for a virtual visit!
Get kids talking about climate change and animal conservation and how kids can help make a better world. Plus, she will teach kids how to draw a whale!
One percent of sales of Welcome Home, Whales will go to the nonprofit wildlife conservation organization, Defenders of Wildlife.
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #7
As our friends at the Children & Nature Network highlight, playing in nature creates nature champions!
Yet for many communities, “childhood has moved indoors,” both in home and educational environments. This is especially true in cities, where more than 80% of children in the U.S. are living today. One of the biggest steps we can take toward ensuring all children experience nature is to address disparities in ACCESS to nature.
Let's reinforce this powerful fact for the climate movement: Creating equitable access to nature will inspire and equip the youngest generations to be active stewards of our shared home, planet Earth.
The Children & Nature Network have fantastic resources for understanding and tackling this issue on their website and social media pages! Follow on Instagram @children_naturenetwork and Twitter @ChildrenNature. Plus, explore their reports on the Benefits of Nature HERE.
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #8
Ask questions to expand awareness, knowledge, and critical thinking skills—kids can handle it!
For example: What are some examples of action that improves climate literacy?
Our friends at the Earth Day Network studied commitments to climate education since the Paris Agreement of 2015. By signing this document, leaders agreed: “to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information...” (Article 12).
These are all things that can improve a country’s climate literacy, or ability of people to make informed decisions in the interest of global health.
So—How is our leadership doing? Read full results of the Earth Day Network's study HERE.
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #9
What’s on your bookshelf? Encourage climate literacy all year round by dedicating more shelf space at your home or school to CLIMATE-related books.
We’ve prepared a Bookshop.org list of our favorite 18 books on climate-related topics for 8-12 year olds to get you started! Browse our “Climate Shelf for Young Readers” list for a mix of picture books, reference books, and narratives to prompt meaningful thought and discussion about our planet.
On this list is one book of our own: Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do, an accessible and encouraging reference guide. The book’s related educator guide includes discussion questions, vocab words, and tips on how to take action:
Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash
CLIMATE LITERACY TIP #10
Educate, Engage, Repeat! Thanks for joining our Countdown to the UN Climate Change Conference COP26—taking place from October 31st to November 12th!
This event is about uniting the world to inspire action on ambitious climate goals. We believe climate literacy should be one of the top goals on that list.
How can you help?
The official website for the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 has fantastic resources to inspire and educate young climate leaders on their website! We highly recommend exploring their “Schools Pack” resources for a wide variety of activities and ideas for getting—and staying!—involved.
Plus, follow at @cop26UK on Instagram, and @COP26 on Twitter for updates throughout the events.
Whether you are an educator, librarian, parent, caregiver, school administrator, or otherwise-identifying individual invested in the future of this planet, we hope you'll join us in the movement to promote climate education in as many spaces, for as many people, as possible. #TogetherForOurPlanet
