The attitudes of climate change learners
Learners need to be equipped with the values and attitudes for working with and responding to climate change knowledge. The Cambridge learner attributes foster these approaches, enabling children and young people to be:
- confident in working with information and ideas – their own and those of others
- responsible for themselves, responsive to and respectful of others
- reflective as learners, developing their ability to learn
- innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
- engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference.
Find out more about our Cambridge learner attributes.
Recognising and celebrating climate action
As well as offering internationally recognised qualifications in subjects that are relevant to climate change, we also provide opportunities to recognise student and teacher action in tackling the climate crisis.
For example, in 2023 we launched our first Cambridge IGCSE Learner Award for Action on Climate Change. See the inspiring stories of the winners.
We have also introduced a Sustainability Award within the Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition. The competition is an exciting extra-curricular activity where teams investigate a topic relevant to their school or community. Students are asked to consider sustainability throughout, helping them connect science to solving real-world problems.
Our Dedicated Teacher Awards celebrate teachers who lead the way in climate change awareness and education, both in the classroom and community activities.
Raising the profile of climate change education
Lack of support for climate change and sustainability education at national policy level, was cited as one of the biggest challenges for climate education in schools in a 2022 survey of Cambridge International Schools. With a specially appointed Global Director of Climate Change Education and ongoing collaboration with ministries, Cambridge continues to advocate for climate change and sustainability education as a high priority internationally.
See our latest work at COP28.