Climate change continues to be one of the most pressing – and worrying – issues facing young people today.
The recent COP30 climate talks in Brazil was a real mixed bag of progress and disappointments. One of the high points was securing a commitment to adaptation finance for vulnerable countries, while the biggest disappointment was failure to agree a plan to phase out fossil fuels.
Many students are extremely worried about the planet’s future and are often keen to understand what they can do themselves to make a difference. The good news is that there is a wealth of high-quality and free resources that are designed specifically for secondary schools to investigate to support students’ learning and their wellbeing.
British Red Cross – Weather Together
One of the most accessible options is the British Red Cross “Weather Together” toolkit. This flexible set of lessons helps students explore the effects of extreme weather (floods, heatwaves, storms) and understand how climate change influences these events globally and locally.
Most notably, it also addresses the emotional side of climate change, offering activities that create space for discussions about eco-anxiety and resilience.
Water Aid
WaterAid’s climate change resources provide free science-based lesson plans, activities and short films. These cover everything from the science behind a warming planet to the human impact on water access, agriculture and health.
Friends of the Earth – Climate Justice, Hope and Action
For students who are keen to understand climate change in terms of social justice, the Friends of the Earth’s “Climate Justice, Hope and Action” resources are just the ticket. Tailored for Key Stage 3, these lessons help students analyse who is affected most by climate change, why disparities exist and what fairness means as the world heats up.
European Space Agency – Climate for Schools
Teachers seeking more STEM-focused content might like to look at the European Space Agency’s “Climate for Schools” packs. They use real satellite data to explore issues such as rising sea levels, carbon emissions, sea ice reduction and global temperature changes.
One Earth Education – Climate Kids Academy
For a whole-school approach, One Earth Education’s “Climate Kids Academy” offers a structured programme designed to embed sustainability into everyday learning – perfect for supporting schools’ eco-school initiatives.
Hope for the future
In a world where it may appear that the adults are just not taking climate change seriously enough, these resources can help students build their own knowledge about climate change and the surrounding issues, providing them with agency and connection to what is happening on the ground.
References
- Weather Together: resource for environmental education. Available at: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/teaching-resources/weather-together-resources (Accessed 26 November 2025)
- Climate change teaching resources. Available at: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/get-involved/teaching-resources/climate-change (Accessed 26 November 2025)
- Climate Justice, hope and action. Available at: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/ks3-resources-climate-justice-hope-and-action (Accessed 26 November 2025)
- Climate for schools. Available at: https://climate.esa.int/en/educate/climate-for-schools/ (Accessed 26 November 2025)
- Climate Kids Academy. Available at: https://oneeartheducation.co.uk/climate-kids/ (Accessed 26 November 2025)
