New survey report: Climate change and sustainability in secondary schools

How are New Zealand secondary schools responding to climate change?

Our new report shares  findings from a 2020 survey of teachers and school leaders in English-medium secondary and composite schools. 

This work is part of NZCER's education and climate change project. 

Key findings:

• Many secondary teachers and school leaders expect climate change will have an impact on their communities within their students’ lifetimes.
• Secondary schools are generally supportive of student environmental and climate leadership, but it is uncommon for secondary schools to have a school-wide focus on climate change.
• Causes and impacts of climate change, and personal actions, are a common focus in the classroom.  Collective and systemic actions are less likely to be a major focus. 
• The least common focus in classrooms where climate change is addressed is “students’ career options and pathways in a ‘green’ or ‘transition’ economy”. 
• Other less common focuses include:
  • mātauranga Māori or other indigenous knowledges as sources for positive climate and sustainability action
  • the specific impacts of climate change for Pacific peoples
  • local or regional adaptation or mitigation activities

• Some teachers saw the COVID-19 response as a model for personal and systemic changes that could make a positive impact on climate change and sustainability.

  Read the full report 

Read our previous reports 

Opportunities for education in a changing climate

Climate change and sustainability in primary and intermediate schools

We wish you a safe and healthy break over the summer!