Teach the Future is a youth-led campaign pushing for broad climate education in the UK, with branches in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Founded by a volunteer base of students in High School and Further Education. The campaign focuses on implementing Climate and Nature Education across Curriculums in the UK. equipping generations to come with the skills and knowledge needed for the green jobs of the futures.

History

2019: Founding

The idea for Teach the Future was formulated at the Friends of the Earth Youth Gathering at the

Keele University Keele University is a Public university#United Kingdom, public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, it was granted uni ...

in the summer of 2019, with young climate campaigners frustrated at their lack of school education on climate. “The Teach the Future” slogan evolved from the demands of the Student Climate Network- which worked regularly with Teach the Future through the campaigns forming. The campaign was unveiled on 12 October 2019 at the

National Education Union The National Education Union (NEU) is a trade union in the United Kingdom for school teachers, further education lecturers, education support staff and teaching assistants. It was formed by the amalgamation of the National Union of Teachers ...

's Climate Emergency Conference, in front of a room full of educational specialists and campaigners. Two days after the campaign unveiling, Teach the Future began a petition for broader climate education across the country which has gathered more than 27,000 signatures.

2020: Parliamentary reception and new campaigns

Between March and April 2020 the campaign suspended its activities in light of the COVID lockdown. After this period, Teach the Future moved to a more online-focused organising system which has been largely retained. In May 2020, six new student staff members were appointed to Coordinate Teach the Future alongside existing volunteers. In June Teach the Future began their campaign for a green recovery for education from Covid. Tech the Future launched in June 2020 with an event outside the Scottish parliament. The group held meetings with Deputy First Minister John Swinney and MSPs from across the parliament.

2021: Drafting a climate education bill

As a result of Teach the Future's campaigning ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, Climate education was mentioned in the manifestos of the

Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour (), is the part of the UK Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and unionist, it holds 23 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons. It is repres ...

Scottish Liberal Democrats The Scottish Liberal Democrats () is a liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, part of UK Liberal Democrats. The party holds 5 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, 6 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons and 86 of 1 ...

and SNP, while the

Scottish Greens The Scottish Greens (also known as the Scottish Green Party; ) are a green political party in Scotland. The party has 7 MSPs of 129 in the Scottish Parliament, the party holds 35 of the 1226 councillors at Scottish local Government level. The ...

specifically referenced the campaign in their manifesto. In March 2021 Teach the Future drafted amendments to the new Welsh curriculum which were tabled by MS Llyr Grufdydd and gained support from

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...

and the

Welsh Conservatives The Welsh Conservatives (), also known as the Welsh Conservative Party (), is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At United Kingdom general elections, Westminster elections, it is ...

, before being defeated 20-31 in a debate. In August 2021 Teach the Future held a protest outside the

Department for Education The Department for Education (DfE) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for child protection, child services, education in England, educati ...

, calling for improved climate education. In November 2021- Teach the Future’s student-written climate education bill was tabled by

Nadia Whittome Nadia Edith Whittome (, born 29 August 1996) is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Nottingham East since 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she was previously the youngest MP upon her election at the age of 23. She ...

in the

UK Parliament The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of ...

. The parliament voted for the bill to be given a future 2nd reading.

2022: Focus on teaching reform

In September, Teach the Future launched their “Curriculum for a changing climate” proposals with recommendations for the integration of climate teaching in all subjects across primary, KS3 and GCSE students in England based on academic research.

2023: Parliamentary Receptions

In March 2023 Teach the Future held a Scottish parliamentary reception, to promote its Scottish asks. The reception included speeches from education secretary Shirley Anne Sommerville, Ross Greer MSP, and

NUS Scotland The National Union of Students Scotland is an autonomous body within the National Union of Students (United Kingdom), National Union of Students (NUS). It is the national representative body of Scotland, and serves to protect and caring about ...

president Ellie Gomersall. In June 2023 Teach the Future held a Welsh parliamentary reception, with the support of Senedd Members. In October 2023, Teach the Future’s Climate and Education Bill was included in the Labour's draft policy programme for the General Election.

2024: General Election Climate Cards

For the upcoming general election Teach the Future has launched the campaign, “Is climate on their cards.” A project where young people will ask politicians about their climate commitments and grade them on their answers.{{Cite web , title=Demand Climate Education Reform this General Election {{! Teach the Future , url=https://www.teachthefuture.uk/general-election-campaign , access-date=2024-06-06 , website=www.teachthefuture.uk , language=en

Asks

Teach the Future had developed campaign asks for each of the four UK Nation's differing education systems.

References

Climate change organisations based in the United Kingdom Education reform Environmental education in the United Kingdom Environmental organisations based in the United Kingdom Student organisations in the United Kingdom Youth organisations based in the United Kingdom Climate communication Educational organisations based in the United Kingdom