Teachers & schools most influential factors in educating children on climate change
The report of 1,000 youngsters aged six to 12 and their parents investigates children’s views on how behaviors affect the planet.
The report is supported by child clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey, who commented: “Our findings show how passionately many children care about the environment and the need to act to protect it, by taking action including recycling more materials, planting more trees, saving energy, driving electric cars, protecting bees and eating less meat.”
The report highlighted:
- 70% of children say teachers are the people they listen to most about protecting the planet
- 46% of children would like to see more meat-free meals served in a bid to help the environment
- 90% of children say they like learning about how they can help to protect the planet
- 34% of children have asked an adult if they could eat a meal that doesn’t include any meat – with 42% reckoning they probably wouldn’t notice if meat wasn’t in their meals
Holly Marrero Easson, Green Cuisine out-of-home marketing manager, said: “We know children are hungry to learn and better the planet, and this research has highlighted that children have important views they’d like to be taken seriously by adults.
“It’s therefore vital that we, as adults, are giving them the right support to make these positive changes, particularly small and simple adjustments like having the option to enjoy more plant-based meals at school every week. The more we can put healthy school meals in front of children and educate them on the environment, the more we will start to make positive impacts on our planet.”
Bird’s Eye Green Cuisine has launched a ‘Go Green Lunch’ Schools Trust Initiative across 31 schools, encouraging them to learn more about food provenance and the importance of plant-based food.
Green Cuisine has introduced two plant-based menus twice a week to help children to reduce their meat consumption and protect the planet.
A school activity pack is also available to each participating school, with educational quizzes and word searches included, along with a voucher for gardening equipment for students to grow their own peas.