Ecology: Education

(asked on 26th February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the proposals relating to education in Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity commissioned by HM Treasury, what plans his Department has to introduce nature studies in the education system at primary, secondary and tertiary level; if he will make an assessment of whether the teaching of economics adequately integrates nature and biodiversity; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 9th March 2021

The Government will examine the Review’s findings and respond formally in due course.

Topics related to the environment are included within the science and geography National Curriculum. At primary level (Key Stages 1 and 2), pupils are taught how environments can change, including positive and negative impacts of human action, weather, and climate zones.

In secondary science (Key Stage 3 and 4), pupils are taught about the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the effect that this has on the climate. At GCSE, pupils consider the evidence, and uncertainties in evidence, for anthropogenic causes of climate change. They also study the impact of increased levels of carbon dioxide and methane and how this can be mitigated.

In secondary geography (Key Stage 3), pupils are taught about the climate through topics such as change in climate from the Ice Age to the present. Pupils are also taught about how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, environments, and the climate. At GCSE, teaching covers changing weather and climate, including the causes, consequences of, and responses to, extreme weather conditions and natural weather hazards.

In 2017, the Department introduced a new environmental science A level. This enables pupils to study topics that will support their understanding of climate change and how it can be tackled.

We are exploring the option of introducing a new GCSE in Natural History after receiving a proposal from exam board OCR, but have made no commitment at this stage. It will need to meet our robust criteria for new GCSEs.

Economics A level also requires the study of the allocation of scarce resources, which could include the effects of economic decisions and activity on the environment. The details of this are for schools and colleges to determine.

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