Climate education

Climate education leadership sees growing impact

As part of the University of Cambridge, our climate education advantage stems from our ability to leverage the broader university ecosystem. We can draw on the latest scientific research, educational advances and the best in publishing to transform how we understand our planet and combat climate change.

We bring together university academics and Press & Assessment colleagues to explore the implications of climate research for educational products. We also led a cross-Cambridge workshop at the Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Development Congress in Istanbul in June 2025, bringing together four parts of the university for a workshop to address the role of education in combating misinformation. Over the last year, our impact working in climate education has seen action and impact in several key areas.

Climate Quest takes off in India

Cambridge’s free online Climate Quest programme, launched in 2024, has emerged as a standout initiative for its reach and accessibility. Now with 12,000 registered users in India alone, Cambridge is targeting a wider audience, with 40 percent of its students already coming from non-Cambridge schools. The programme expanded with a launch in Pakistan later in 2025 and growing interest from Latin America.

“As the world faces a climate crisis, education must be part of the answer.”

Christine Özden, Global Director for Climate Education

Climate change in the UK curriculum

Cambridge has advocated for reform of the UK curriculum based on current scientific understanding and in response to Cambridge’s Striking the balance review. The UK government’s interim Curriculum and Assessment Review adopted the recommendation to include more climate education in a more relevant curriculum for students up to the age of 16.

Cambridge has also integrated climate considerations across disciplines and into various syllabuses, including IGCSEs in Business, Accounting and Economics. The International A level for Geography has been completely reframed around climate change.

Green education partnership with ICESCO

Cambridge’s collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) represents a significant achievement at the education-system level. Working together, they developed the Greening Education framework guidance, which includes nine recommendations, formally launched and accepted by the ICESCO Ministers of Education conference in Oman in October 2024. This work was then showcased to the world at COP 29 in Baku, demonstrating Cambridge’s growing influence in shaping climate education policy across COP’s diverse member states.

A curriculum framework for climate education

Offering a practical tool for schools implementing climate education, Cambridge’s International Education group has developed a curriculum framework for climate change education that provides valuable guidance to schools on progression and coherence in curriculum planning.

Carbon literacy courses for British Council, REAch2 and the UK Publishers Association

Cambridge has developed an accredited carbon literacy course that is now being adapted for various organisations. This includes a bespoke version for the British Council, a customised programme for REAch2, the UK’s largest primary-only academy trust, which has been rolled out across their schools, and a project with the UK Publishers Association to deliver sector-wide carbon literacy training.