Co-production and youth action partnerships: Introducing the ‘challenging the climate crisis’ project

Williams, Sara-Jayne; Portus, Rosamund; Robertson, Morien; Preston, Holly; Griffiths, Islay; Pykett, Esme; Currie, Miranda; Stranger, Rowan; Reynolds, Oscar; McEwen, Lindsey

Abstract

To be a young person today is to face the prospect of an adulthood, which is shaped by environmental breakdown and climate emergency. The declarations of Climate Crisis and calls to action are widespread (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2021; UN Environment Programme, 2021; Harvey, 2021; Wu, Snell and Samji, 2020). Perhaps unsurprisingly, just last year, it was reported that many child psychiatrists in England are seeing children and young people becoming increasingly distressed about the climate crisis (Watts and Campbell, 2020). This year, in a study of 10,000 young people, it was found that over half of the young people surveyed were worried or extremely worried about the climate crisis (Hickman et al., 2021). The knowledge that young people are at the forefront of the climate emergency, both as the demographic who will be most greatly affected by climate change, and increasingly as activists for change, was central to the development of the Challenging the Climate Crisis: Children’s Agency to Tackle Policy Underpinned by Learning for Transformation ([CCC-Catapult], 2021). This project aims to examine how young people perceive and experience climate issues. The three-year international project, led by researchers in the University of the West of England, Bristol and with partners in Ireland, Finland and Italy, involves a survey of over 2,400 young people, as well as creative, narrative work with young people, teachers, and other key actors who shape their learning. The research findings will make a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of young people’s views and experiences, and will lead to policy-based recommendations and resource toolkits for developing climate education in different cultural settings.

• Digital Artefact Type: Website Content
• Acceptance Date: Nov 5, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2022
• Keywords: climate change; climate crisis
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9209666
• Related Public URLs: https://naee.org.uk/co-production-and-youth-action-partnerships-introducing-the-challenging-the-climate-crisis-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=co-production-and-youth-action-partnerships-introducing-the-challenging-the-climate-crisis-project