Virtual Workshop: What’s the Buzz About Net Zero Education?

As the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly clear, the concept of net zero has swiftly emerged as a focal point in both scientific and political conversations. But what exactly does net zero mean? What are its challenges and opportunities? And how can net zero be effectively taught? 

These large questions were addressed in our workshop, What’s the Buzz About Net Zero Education? This event was held 12:00–2:00 PM, U.S. Eastern Time, December 14, 2023

watch the workshop recording 

What is net zero?

Climate change education plays a critical role in driving action and solutions needed to achieve net zero emissions globally. In this workshop, educators from around the world discussed innovative approaches to integrating net zero concepts into teaching and learning. We explored how attention to net zero can enhance climate change education and help learners think about pathways for a just transition to a carbon-neutral future. Watch the recording of this 2-hour virtual workshop to learn about perspectives on this important component of international climate policy and action. 

Watch the workshop recording to be able to: 

  • Explain the purpose of a net zero policy
  • Identify strategies for addressing net zero goals in the context of climate justice
  • Suggest actions learners can work toward as they engage in governance in their community
  • Explain the challenges and opportunities associated with net zero emission policies
  • Identify strategies educators can use to promote net zero climate education

Logos.

Resources:

View chat notes

Presenter Resources 

Presentation Slide Deck 

Alan Reid's Slide Deck 

Jen Kretser's Slide Deck 

Speakers (Alphabetically):

  • Nicole Ardoin HeadshotNicole Ardoin
    Associate Professor, Stanford University, United States

    Nicole Ardoin, Emmett Family Faculty Scholar, is an associate professor in the Social Sciences Division of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, senior fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment, and Sykes Family Faculty Director of the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER).

     

     

  • Judy Braus HeadshotJudy Braus
    Executive Director, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), United States

    Judy Braus brings to her role as NAAEE Executive Director a wealth of experience in the environmental education profession, with a focus on conservation education, diversity and inclusion, and using the power of education to help create healthier communities that empower people to help restore and protect the environment.

     

     

  • TC Chang Headshot

    Tzu-Chau (TC) Chang 
    Professor, Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

    Professor Chang got his Ph.D. in Science Education from Cornell University, and served as the executive secretary of the Environmental Protection Division of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan to coordinate national environmental education programs in 2008-2012. He is now a professor at Graduate Institute of Environmental Education of National Taiwan Normal University and is also the coordinator of the GEEP APRC (Asia Pacific Regional Center) for Environmental Education of Taiwan.

     

  • KATHAYOON A. KHALIL, PHDKathayoon A. Khalil
    Associate Vice President of Conservation Learning at New England Aquarium, United States

    Kathayoon Khalil is a conservation psychologist and education professional with over two decades of experience working in zoos, aquariums, museums, and nature centers. She is the Director of Engagement for Zoo Advisors, the Associate Vice President of Conservation Learning at New England Aquarium, a proud alumna of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program, a current fellow at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, and an instructor for Project Dragonfly at Miami University of Ohio. Her in conservation began as a teen volunteer at the Oregon Zoo, where I quickly developed a passion for wildlife. 

     

     

     

  • JEN KRETSER Headhot

    Jen Kretser
    Director of Climate Initiatives, The Wild Center, United States

    Jen Kretser is the Director of Climate Initiatives at The Wild Center, a science center in northern New York state.  Jen manages the Center’s climate change engagement programs including the global youth climate program which elevates youth voice and action in communities around the world. 

     

  • Dr. Christina Kwuak

    Christina Kwauk
    Research Director, Unbounded Associates, United States

    Christina works as an education consultant and is Research Director at Unbounded Associates. She also serves on the Cosmos of Stars for RegenIntel, Girl Rising’s Advisory Council, the International Jury for the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, and the Judging Academy for the World’s Best School Prizes. Formerly, Christina was a Fellow at the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, Associate Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) Project, and Head of Climate and Education at the Education Commission.

  • Shaun Martin Headshot

    Shaun Martin

    Vice President, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, World Wildlife Fund, United States

    As vice president for ecological and social resilience, Shaun sets WWF’s strategy for helping partners build social-ecological resilience to climate change through adaptation interventions that are nature-friendly, use nature to help people, and helps nature adapt to climate change. With 25 year’s experience in capacity building, training and leadership development, to date Shaun has educated more than 1,000 WWF staff and partners from dozens of countries across the globe on climate change and adaptation. 

     

  • Martha Monroe Headshot

    Martha Monroe 
    Professor, Associate Director, University of Florida, United States

    Dr. Martha Monroe is a professor and associate director at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida where she teaches, develops programs, and mentors students in environmental education. Her current activities focus on building civic engagement skills among youth, enhancing adults’ capacity for addressing contentious issues through deliberative discussions,  supporting educational programs that address climate change, and empower learners to act.

     

     

     

  • Ginger Potter Headshot

    Ginger Potter 
    Senior Education Specialist, Office of Environmental Education (OEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United States 

    Ms. Potter is responsible for environmental education program design, implementation, and management as well as research, evaluation, and program assessment and strategic planning in the Office of Environmental Education. She serves as the Project Officer for the National Teacher Training and Professional Development Program (ee360+) and is the Co-Chair of the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP).

     

  • Alan Reid Headshot

    Alan Reid
    Professor, Monash University, Australia 

    Alan Reid is a Professor of Education at Monash University. He works with a range of environmental and sustainability education (ESE) research networks, locally and internationally. Key activities include editing the research journal, Environmental Education Research, and supporting the Global Environmental Education Partnership, an international stakeholder network. More at https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/alan-reid.

     

     

     

     

  • Bill Scott Headshot

    Bill Scott 
    Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Bath, United Kingdom

    Bill Scott is Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Bath where his research focused on the role of learning in sustainable development, on the contributions that education (viewed broadly) can make to this, and on the problems of researching the effectiveness of such activities.