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Day 18

Seven minutes of environmental education for a schoolchild in Germany

Climate protection in the classroom Climate protection in the classroom Climate protection in the classroom Climate protection in the classroom

Seven minutes of environmental education for a schoolchild in Germany
Day 18
Age-appropriate environmental education for primary school children

For the past year, children and young people have been reminding people of our responsibility towards our planet with the demonstrations of the “Fridays for Future” movement. The youth protests have also brought a lot of movement to the political debates about climate change in Germany. It was only thanks to the protests that many people realized how important climate protection is for preserving the livelihoods of future generations. At the same time, however, the demands on teachers are increasing: They have to answer students’ questions. Why does climate change actually exist? What is the greenhouse effect and what does it have to do with rising temperatures? What can we do about climate change? Why is it not enough if we all drive less? Why do we also need political solutions? Which political solutions could work? These discussions are not always easy for teachers, as they range from understanding the physical principles of climate science to the social, economic and political questions about combating climate change and its consequences.

Age-appropriate environmental education for primary school children
need
Climate and environmental education for primary school children in Germany.
activity
Environmental educators visit primary schools and impart basic knowledge and options for action on the subject of climate change.
Measurable performance
Number of climate courses conducted and number of children who participated in the courses.
Result
The students gain knowledge about climate change and can reflect on their own decisions and behaviors and those of their parents.
Systemically relevant impact
Early climate education enables long-term behavioral changes among growing children and young people and promotes solution-oriented thinking about climate change.
background

Climate changes have always occurred on Earth. However, due to humans and our actions on Earth, the climate is changing faster and more drastically than ever before. Transport, agriculture, production of goods, deforestation and many other activities emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4). This increases the greenhouse effect and the global average temperature rises. Climate researchers believe it is likely that the global average temperature will rise by up to 5.4°C if no action is taken and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow annually (IPCC, 2018). This can lead to droughts, floods and other extreme weather events with drastic consequences for people, animals and plants.

In 2015, the global community therefore set itself the goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5° Celsius with the Paris Climate Agreement. Over the past four years, global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise, and with them the global annual temperature. Avoiding greenhouse gas emissions is also a major challenge in Germany. In all probability, Germany will not achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990. In 2018, according to the Federal Environment Agency's near-term estimate (2019), greenhouse gas emissions in Germany were 865.6 million tons. Although they have fallen compared to the previous year, they are not at the level targeted by the federal government.

Climate change has long been a challenge for society as a whole, and political, economic and cultural responses must be developed. To this end, it is also important to anchor the topic more firmly in school lessons so that children and young people can find answers to their questions and develop solution-oriented thinking and climate-conscious behavior in all areas of life at an early stage.

Changing regional focuses, Germany
Day 18 Day 18
The good deed

With your donation today, primary school children in Germany can take part in a course on climate change. In 90 minutes, the children work together to find out in which areas of life greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are released. The lessons impart basic knowledge about climate change as well as solutions and options for action in the areas of mobility, nutrition, heating and consumption in a playful way. Trained environmental educators offer the lessons. They visit the participating schools and conduct the courses. The content is tailored to the curriculum and therefore usefully complements the general knowledge lessons. A workbook accompanies the lessons and also offers the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic later at school and to discuss it with parents at home. In this way, primary school children deal with issues of climate protection at an early age and learn to make environmentally friendly decisions.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
82,100,000
82,100,000
Population
46.136
46.136
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 5 of 189
Rank 5 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

As one of the richest countries in the world, Germany has one of the highest carbon footprints. In 2016, it was 11 tons of CO2 per person per year, more than five times the ecologically acceptable value (Federal Environment Agency, 2018).
About the organization and further information

organization

atmosfair gGmbH

website

https://www.atmosfair.de

Initiative Transparent Civil Society

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Further links