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Climate Action in the Classroom
The European Climademy project is working with educators to develop innovative teaching materials for better climate change education in schools.
Can schools inspire young people to take an interest in climate change issues, sustainability, and social justice? The Erasmus+-funded “Climate Change Teacher’s Academy” project, Climademy for short, aims to do just that. It provides science-based, innovative teaching materials and has set out to establish a strong European network of dedicated teachers. The Institute of Environmental Physics at the University of Bremen is one of the seven partner organizations from Germany, Finland, Greece, and Italy participating in the project. up2date. interviewed project team member Simon Bittner.
What factors influenced the decision to focus the Climademy project on schoolteachers?
Teachers play a key role in sustainable development education. The effects of climate change are already felt today, and it is crucial to prepare the next generation of Europeans for the future. Climademy is filling the gap in school curricula. We provide teachers with the latest science-based findings, digital tools, and practical teaching concepts. They are also involved in creating lesson materials.
What role is the University of Bremen playing in the project, and how do you collaborate with the other partner organizations?
The University of Bremen coordinates the German hub, one of four hubs in the project. Our hub focuses on satellite data and climate modeling. In collaboration with partner organizations from Finland, Greece, and Italy, we have developed educational materials and organized advanced training courses for teachers, first within each hub and then across countries. Each organization contributes its area of expertise, ranging from atmospheric physics to environmental education, teaching methods, and Earth observation.
Are results or materials from the project publicly available already?
Yes, they are. Our main platform, CLAUDI – short for Climate Auditorium – hosts free teaching materials, e-learning modules, and a forum where European teachers can exchange ideas and experiences. Materials are available in German, English, and the other languages spoken in our hubs. One example is the e-learning module “Drivers and Impacts of Climate Change,” which uses real satellite data to teach about the causes and consequences of climate change. There are also many playful activities and games, such as Climate Bingo.
© Simon Bittner
What does the future hold for Climademy? Are there plans to continue the project or launch a follow-up project?
The Climademy project will officially end in June, but we will continue to work on it in some areas. The CLAUDI platform will remain open and new content will be added. We are also planning additional training courses for teachers. We are also working on having the developed materials be incorporated into national training programs.
In addition, we are preparing a follow-up project that will expand our network and efforts to Latin America. I am very grateful for the excellent cooperation between our local partners and the participating teachers.
Further Information
The CLAUDI platform hosts free teaching materials for grades 7 and above, e-learning modules, and a forum where teachers can exchange ideas and experiences. It is freely accessible and part of the Climademy project, funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.
