Teaching children about climate change could boost their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. 

Kids have been brought up to be aware of climate change, but it is important they continue to learn about the impact of pollution and ways to save the planet. 

That is why the University of Surrey developed the Heat Cool learning programme to increase climate change literacy among students.

The technology-based curriculum features interactive elements, such as infrared cameras to learn about the urban heat island. The aim was to make the subject fun and playful to make them interested in both climate change and wider STEM topics. 

Lead author of the study and the co-director of the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey professor Prashant Kumar said: “Arming our children with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand and eventually help fight climate change is critical to nursing our planet back to health.”

He added that interactive education, such as this, helps to boost interest in subjects, and STEM on the whole. 

The Heat Cool programme increased knowledge on climate change by 9.4 per cent in primary schools and 4.5 per cent in secondary schools. 

While kids will simply find these lessons fun, they can lead to future generations being involved in helping to reduce the impact of climate change. For instance, they could grow up to become scientists like those who developed carbon capture technology to cut down on greenhouse gases.