Whereas the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC SPECIAL REPORT: GLOBAL WARMING OF 1.5 C states that heating of the planet must be contained to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid catastrophic weather events, mass species extinction and irreparable damage to global economies; And whereas many local governments in BC, across Canada and around the world have declared a Climate Emergency in part due to students striking from classes to raise awareness about the seriousness of the issue and the threat to their future; And whereas students in K-12 have the right to be taught about the current science, changing impacts of the global climate heating up and the ecological breakdown of the planet to better prepare themselves for their future: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the BC Provincial Ministry of Education to implement environmental education with the most current scientific data and projections on global climate heating and carbon emissions in the atmosphere as well as the ecological breakdown of the planet into the curriculum of K - 12 in all BC schools.
Ministry of Education The Ministry of Education concurs that BC students in the K-12 education system should learn about all aspects of global climate change, and this is reflected in the BC curriculum. The BC science curriculum has a strong emphasis on environmental science and includes topics related to the environment from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Examples include: - Experience and interpret the local environment K-10 - Consider some environmental consequences of their actions Grades 1-2 - Identify some simple environmental implications of their and others actions Grades 3-4 - Explore the nature of sustainable practices around BCs resources Grade 5 - Identify some of the social, ethical, and environmental implications of the findings from their own and others investigations Grades 5-6 - Investigate evidence of climate change over geological time and the recent impacts of humans Grade 7 - Consider social, ethical, and environmental implications of the findings from a students own investigations and those of others Grades 7-10 - Explore the sustainability of different natural systems Grade 9 - Assess risks and address ethical, cultural, andor environmental issues associated with proposed experimental methods Grades 9-10 Specific courses related to climate change are also available in Grades 11 and 12. Environmental Science 11 focuses on concepts like diversity of ecosystems, sustainability of ecosystems, and stewardship and restoration of ecosystems. Environmental Science 12 focuses on topics including changes in the global climate system, sustainable land use, and living sustainably. In addition, Core Competencies, such as social responsibility, are at the center of BCs curriculum and involve concepts such as contributing to community and caring for the environment. Students learn to analyze complex social or environmental issues from multiple perspectives and take thoughtful actions to influence positive change. Information regarding the Core Competencies can be found online at: https:curriculum.gov.bc.cacompetencies.