Project team: Rachel Bolstad, Sophie Watson, Jo MacDonald, Keita Durie
This project began in 2019. It addresses questions about what changes or adaptations our education system may need to make in the immediate and short-to-medium term future, in response to climate change. The research methods have included surveys, interviews, case studies, literature reviews, and analysis of policy.
In 2019 we asked principals and teachers questions about climate change and sustainability questions in the 2019 NZCER National Survey of primary and intermediate schools.
In 2020 we surveyed teachers and leaders from a sample of secondary and composite schools about whole-school and classroom climate and sustainability practices.
In October 2020 we published a report of key themes from key informant interviews including youth perspectives, Māori perspectives, Pacific New Zealander perspectives, system/policy/academic perspectives, and educator perspectives.
In 2022-2023 we carried out qualitative case studies of climate and sustainability education practices across six school and classroom contexts.
Media and blogs
Rachel Bolstad wrote an article for NZ Principal Magazine, "Climate change - what can schools do?" March 2020, volume 35, number 1, pp. 24-28. To read the article click here.
Check the NZCER blog for our posts and this opinion piece for Education International on Harnessing education's power for positive climate action.
Rachel was interviewed on RNZ Nine to Noon, discussing how to support young people with climate anxiety through engaging and acting in response to climate change.
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