A Duke of Edinburgh-style award scheme will be launched to encourage young people to take action against climate change, the education secretary has said.
As part of measures announced by Nadhim Zahawi, young people will be handed a new Climate Leader’s Award for any positive work on improving the environment, with a national ceremony held each year.
Like the Duke of Edinburgh awards, participants can progress through bronze, silver and gold stages, with assessments on projects such as increasing the biodiversity of a local neighbourhood.
Zahawi said: “We want to deliver a better, safer, greener world for future generations of young people and education is one of our key weapons in the fight against climate change. Climate Leaders Awards will let pupils get hands-on experience of understanding, nurturing and protecting the biodiversity around them.”
The Duke of Edinburgh awards were launched in 1956 by Prince Philip to support young people’s development away from the classroom through volunteering, expeditions and sport. The scheme recently added e-sports to the skills assessment section and has expanded to more than 130 countries.
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The new scheme will be launched in England and the Department for Education hopes to extend it to the other nations in the United Kingdom. It builds on the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Award from the WWF, which hands out annual medals to recognise impressive work in the field.
In a speech at the Cop26 climate change conference Zahawi will also lay out what more the education sector could be doing to tackle the problem as part of a pledge to make all schools net-zero. This includes a new model science curriculum — to be in place within two years — that will teach children about the world around them and the harmful impacts of climate change, and encourage practical steps such as installing bird feeders within school grounds.
A school’s success in improving their biodiversity will be mapped against others as part of a new virtual National Education Nature Park.
Zahawi will reiterate the department’s long-term aim to replace gas and coal boilers within schools, although no timeline has been set for their removal. He said: “Empowering teachers in every school to deliver world-leading climate change education will not only raise awareness and understanding of the problem, but also equips young people with the skills and knowledge to build a sustainable future.
“The Cop26 summit has further amplified the UK’s commitments to become a world leader in sustainability right across the education system by engaging young people and bringing them on our journey towards net zero and a green future.”