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Young people are acutely aware of the sustainability challenges they face, and education is crucial to ensuring they are equipped to deal with these challenges and thrive in a green economy. 

In order to determine the best route to achieving this goal, we asked young people, educators, and chemists working in academia and industry across the UK and Ireland what they think of the way climate change and sustainability are currently taught in science and chemistry lessons.

Read on to learn the key findings from these surveys, and the next steps to a curriculum that's fit for the future.

Part one of our report gives the view from educators and young people themselves, while part two gives the view from potential future employers in industry and academia.

Read: Our strategic approach to sustainability

Our action plan

We are calling on Governments to do the following:

1. Urgently prioritise updating the school chemistry curriculum so it prepares all young people to fully participate in efforts to tackle climate change and sustainability challenges.

2. Ensure young people have the skills and careers information needed to progress into green jobs in the chemical sciences and contribute to the future green economy.

As a scientific organisation, we commit to the following:

1. We will communicate clearly and consistently the scientific basis for climate change and the unequivocal role of human activity on climate change in our discussions with policy makers, stakeholders and our community.

2. We will influence policymakers to ensure the chemistry curriculum prepares future generations for a changing world. We will use the findings of this report and our ongoing work to engage with policymakers and influence curriculum development across the UK and Ireland.

3. We will continue to provide resources and professional development opportunities for chemistry educators to enable them to teach effectively about climate change and sustainability.

4. We will continue to enable young people to explore their career options in sustainability and climate change by developing and promoting our career resources. We will showcase a diverse range of roles, people and paths.