Primary school children are anxious about climate change and keen to understand what it means – and the YouTube video series Climate Kids has returned with a second season to answer more of their questions.
"Research tells us that 89 per cent of Australian kids aged 12 and 13 say climate change is probably or definitely something we should worry about; and 38 per cent of Aussie teenagers have moderate, increasing or persistent worry about climate change," says co-creator Dr Lily O'Neill, from the Melbourne Law School.
"We often hear questions about the climate from our own primary-school children, too."
Fellow creator, Dr Linden Ashcroft, senior lecturer in Climate Science and Science Communication at the University of Melbourne said: "As parents, we looked around for engaging, up-to-date, age-appropriate climate explainers that would answer children's questions. But we realised there was a gap. So, we created Climate Kids."
The series is designed to be warm and fun, with Dr Ashcroft "time-travelling" so that she can speak back from a future where we have solved the worst of the climate crisis. "We used this narrative device to alleviate kids' anxiety by showing that a positive future is possible, and what they can do to help," Dr Ashcroft said.
Series co-creator Dr Linden Ashcroft in episode one of Climate Kids Series 2.
The questions are from primary students at Bright P-12 College in Victoria.
"We did not prompt the kids at all but their questions cover every aspect of the climate crisis: melting snow, bushfires, impact on animals, countries disappearing under the sea and what happens to people who live there, what technology can do, why we are still digging up coal," Dr Ashcroft said.
The series is designed for use in the classroom. Associate Professor Kathryn Coleman of the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne said: "Teachers need climate education resources that are scientifically sound but also attentive to how children encounter uncertain futures.
"Climate Kids begins with children's own questions, creating opportunities for teachers and children, in conversation, to move from curiosity and concern towards discussion, critical thinking and meaningful action."
Dr O'Neill said: "Educating children also educates parents. Research shows that when kids demand climate action, their parents listen to them."
Climate Kids videos are hosted on YouTube and are open source and free.
The newly released Series 2 contains the following episodes:
Ep 1: Alpine animals and climate change
Ep 2: Carbon credits: do they do anything?
Ep 3: How many fewer vehicles would it take to make a difference to global warming?
Ep 4: If a country floods from climate change, where will all the refugees go?
Ep 5: Are there laws on climate change? What are they?
Series 1:
Ep 1: What is climate change?
Ep 2: Can technology save us?
Ep 3: Why are we still digging up fossil fuels?
Ep 4: The oceans
Ep 5: Snow and ice
