Climate change education in semiarid and coastal regions of Mexico: towards an inclusive educational program

Abstract

The study addresses climate change education (CCE) in Mexico’s semiarid and coastal regions, a strategy crucial for community adaptability and resilience. Emphasis is placed on the lack of educational materials adapted to the region and the need for active learning strategies in the school context to promote climate literacy and awareness of the phenomenon. We work with research groups and universities to create a climate change program for young students in underprivileged areas. We used a mixed method to assess the impact on climate change awareness and knowledge in urban and rural schools. The findings showed that concern, pro-environmental behavior, and knowledge about climate change significantly increased after the intervention. However, compared to the group that did not receive the intervention, we observed a decrease in hope related to climate change. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of contextualized and active educational programs in raising awareness of climate change in disadvantaged contexts and highlighting the importance of adding meaningful content to these communities and balancing it with local challenges and solutions.