The motivation for the project is based on the fact that much sustainability and climate education tend to focus on environmental facts, whilst little room is given to inner dimensions of sustainability and climate change. In addition, human inner development and potential that are needed for addressing societal challenges are hardly considered. Consequently, children and youth increasingly experience climate anxiety, associated overwhelm and denial.
The project, Transformative climate resilience education for children and youth: From Climate-Anxiety to Resilience, creativity, connection, and regeneration, aims to adress these challenges by (1) enhancing educators' skills for dealing with climate anxiety and nurturing inner resilience of learners, and (2) supporting more integrative approaches that link inner and outer dimensions of transformation.
From LUCSUS, the project is led by Professor Christine Wamsler.
Based on the GreenComp Framework for children and youth education and an inter- and transdisciplinary co-creation process, the project will develop an innovative educators toolbox (that links psychological, creative and ecological approaches) and train educators in implementation. Through online hubs, the project will support related knowledge exchange and shifts in underlying paradigms and approaches.
As a result of the project, children/youth educators will be better trained to provide social, emotional, ethical and trauma-informed education that supports climate resilience across individual, collective, and system levels. This does not only involve enhancing mental wellbeing of children and youth and building their capacities as transformative change-agents. It also involves creating a field of change through more regenerative cultures and communities of practice needed to address climate change and other societal crises.
Collaborative partners
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies
- The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, IIIEE
- One Resilient Earth
- Legacy17
- the vision works
- Climate Creativity
- REAL School Budapest
Read more about the project in the Lund University Research Portal