Content Focus and Effectiveness of Climate Change and Human Health Education in Schools: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The creation of standardized, impactful, evidence-based curricula and resources addressing climate change and health issues in schools is seen as vital in combating the impending risks of climate change on human health. A scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies related to climate change and health education in schools and to examine their content focus and evaluation. The search covered five electronic databases and considered English peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to May 2022. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, representing various countries and employing different study designs. Climate change and health adaptation content dominated the included studies with varying foci, including heatwaves, disaster preparation, flood education, vector-borne diseases, and general climate change and health adaptation. Other studies utilized climate change and health topics to develop skills, employ the use of information and communication technologies within curricula, and highlight the interconnectedness between the environment and health. Although heterogenous in their methodology, the intervention studies and evaluations included (five out of nine) found that interventions impacted knowledge, awareness or perception. Two studies also highlighted the intergenerational learning potential of the interventions. While there is a growing body of research in the field, more research is necessary to measure their effectiveness and thereby develop suitable educational strategies.