Skills, knowledge, opportunities and hope

We asked students what skills, knowledge and opportunities would help, and elders what has made them feel hopeful about their climate change future.

STUDENTS - WHAT SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE OR OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU THINK WILL HELP YOU FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT YOUR CLIMATE CHANGE FUTURE?

Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and incorporating this in education/life

1. School shared leadership

2. School support

3. Parental support

4. Opportunities to undertake relevant subjects

5. Having a voice and being heard

6. Education/access and knowledge

7. Positive peer pressure

8. Creating social norms

9. Hearing case studies

10. Seeing action

11. Paris agreement – a history of YES! Kyoto, Miniamata etc.

12. Collaboration – inter generational/find your tribe

13. Greta Thunberg

14. Student voice – e.g. on the street

15. Social media

16. Momentum of uptake of sustainable solutions

17. Ideas are free – not owned by institutions

18. Availability of science/info

19. Teachers leading – straight forward education pathways – e.g. conferences, etc

20. Baseline education “in general”, not just at school, for example at conferences

21. Finding the pathway – there are multiple pathways – little steps that people lead

22. A specific teacher, amazing teacher – had incredible ability to inspire – he has a way about him.

23. Culture change

24. Recycling programs

25. Trends

26. Incentives

27. Desire for a teacher/leader to go to

28. Using technology in a positive way

29. More focus on school environmental club

30. Taking initiative

31. Hearing different ideas and actions that are done and can be done by young people

32. Media

33. Strikes

34. Small actions that grow into bigger things

35. Only know statistics not social impacts and how it’s affecting people – need to humanise it

36. Taking initiative

37. More accurate knowledge

38. Knowledge of supply change and energy required

39. Should be included in university training for pre-service teachers (as an elective)

40. More EE at school – more connections and embedded in the curriculum

41. Place connections – even for adults and higher ed

42. Options to make own decisions but with incentives

43. Promoting S action or making it somewhat mandatory – seeing negative consequences – making more real life meaningful i.e. effects on animals

44. Learning how to counteract impacts of Climate Change and skills to adapt to a changed world

45. Build more awareness

46. STEM is more conceptual – not enough skills-based learning

47. Awarding climate change actions

48. Small steps – small actions at home

49. More technology

50. Skills and knowledge about how to use tech, to understand what’s happening, having awareness

51. Having actual knowledge of the situation

52. Giving school students opportunities that don’t have rewards or they are forced to go

53. Things like ‘this forum’

54. Talking to peers, talking to friends in relaxed social situations – students having the confidence to speak – everyone becomes a leader – not following others

55. Having groups such as ‘earth groups”

56. Parents having an interest – research from that

57. Families having an interest, showing families and sharing experiences – influencing parents to make better choices

58. Scaffold

59. Respectful dialogue

60. Procedures (for sustainable outcomes)

61. Diversity of voices (intergenerational)

62. Value of inspirational teachers (e.g. ‘Teach for Australia’)

63. Knowledge of political change occurs

64. Practical living skills

65. Public not aware (high via) alternative energy is

66. 2040 doco-awareness – knowledge re: the facts – i.e. how do we transition and explain that process

67. Critical thinking

68. Enquiry learning

69. Teaching politics - 4C – Critical thinking, Creative, Communication, Collaboration

70. Sustainability/Climate Change taught as a subject

71. STEM

72. Environmental Science

73. Subjects that allow for knowledge to be acted on (fear leads to action about Climate Change)

74. Can already see changes in buildings and behaviours – such as composting.

75. Knowledge will perhaps lead to change

76. Infrastructure must be enviro friendly

77. Young people to be taken seriously

78. Need skills to convey our views

79. How do we deal with difficult choices

80. ResourceSmart Schools

81. Alternative Technology and costs falling

82. Knowing things are happening – strikes – people care!

83. Talking to like-minded people

84. Need skills to convey our views

85. Knowing things are happening! Action to meet targets - Reminder there is good and bad stuff – take hope

86. Seeing young people engaged

87. People assume that knowledge is out there, but it isn’t always

88. We aren’t talking about it because it’s become political and too complex or happening too far away. What would encourage people to do things? Affective element.

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ELDERS – WHAT HAS HELPED YOU FEEL HOPEFUL ABOUT YOUR CLIMATE CHANGE FUTURE?

1. Closer to youth to remain hopeful

2. Youth engaging to work with

3. Seeing and working with Climate Change champions

4. Momentum behind indigenous ‘Caring for Country’

5. Power and responsibility of being an influencer

6. Targeted leadership

7. Dripping tap = think global act local

8. Social engagement, bringing things together

9. Watching the changes people make – people can make changes, behaviour can change.

10. Take action

11. Stop trusting the elders in government who are entirely corrupted

12. Think Globally, Act Locally, Respond Personally

13. Agricultural – disparate groups

14. for Adani – economic growth

15. Against – long term growth

16. Trusted sources – diverse, stereotypes, greenie identity

17. Great examples of what people are doing

18. Local government initiatives – not alone

19. Going to different schools - meeting passionate teachers and students – spreading this into community

20. Self-connecting to land and country

21. Student confidence and courage of your convictions

22. Kids are so eager to learn about this issue

23. Is it on the Vic Government radar? We think so

24. Visibility of the issue – 2040 film – electricity grids, trees

25. Meaningful experiences with kids change everything

26. Dripping tap technique – kids will take it home

27. Seeing that young people are learning to make change

28. Parks Vic – keep doing what we’re doing – immersing in natural world

29. Teaching students that science isn’t bad – education that changes lifestyle, seeing that shift makes them hopeful

30. Building our own sustainability even in our own home

31. People adapting to policies

32. Things happening at the community level

33. Changing behaviour

34. Climate change training as part of pre service training