Can we educate our way out of the climate crisis?' by Professor Chris Eames

Climate change is happening and we are not doing enough to address it, so can education make the difference we need?   'Can we educate our way out of the climate crisis?' by Professor Chris Eames.   The climate on Earth is changing, driven by a rapid increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This increase is a direct result of human activity, including the burning of oil, coal and gas, and the production of methane and other gases through agriculture, waste and other means. The changing climate is altering weather patterns resulting in destructive heat, fires, storms, floods and drought which are threatening people and ecosystems. Our knowledge of this is very clear, as is what we need to do about it. Yet our response so far has been completely inadequate. One response that has been woefully underplayed to date is education for climate change, both in and beyond schooling.   In this presentation, Professor Chris Eames will draw on a long career at the University of Waikato with a foundation in the sciences, an immersion in teaching and learning, a passion for a more sustainable world, and a focus on climate change education. He will discuss his experiences in undergraduate and postgraduate education, research with schools, collaboration with national and international colleagues, and work with the Organisation for Economic and Cooperative Development and the Solomon Islands government to examine the contribution climate change education should be making to the ensure a sustainable future for our future generations.