What Matters in Climate Change Education

Session Type: Working Group Roundtable

Abstract

The sociologist of everyday practices, Elizabeth Shove, noted “a yawning gulf between the potential contribution of the social sciences and the typically restricted models and concepts of social change embedded in contemporary environmental policy in the UK, and in other countries too.” She argued that, “As well as making a strong case for going beyond what I refer to as the dominant paradigm of “ABC”-attitude, behaviour, and choice-I discuss the attractions of this model, the blind spots it creates, and the forms of governance it sustains.” In this session, Shove's concerns are applied to education. We ask critical questions of the research literature on climate change education, and what it yields for the dreams, possibilities and necessities of public education.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Environmental Education

Chair

• Constance L. Russell, Lakehead University

Papers

• Climate Change Education: What Matters and Why - Alan D. Reid, Monash University; Marcia McKenzie, University of Saskatchewan

• Climate Change Education: What Matters in Research and Public Education - K.C. Busch, North Carolina State University; Joseph A. Henderson, Paul Smith's College

Discussant

• Justin Dillon, University of Exeter