Climate and Ecology Emergency Education Bill

A

BILL

TO

Require matters relating to climate change and sustainability to be integrated throughout the curriculum in primary and secondary schools and included in vocational training courses; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Maintained schools

(1) The Education Act 2002 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 76(1) (interpretation of Part 6), after the entry for attainment targets insert—

“the “climate and ecological emergency” means serious and urgent problems that are being caused or likely to be caused by changes to the world’s climate and hence its weather, in particular the world getting warmer as a result of human activity increasing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere;

“climate justice” means the social injustice issues pertaining from global heating;”.

(3) In section 78(1) (general requirements in relation to curriculum), before paragraph (a) insert— “(za) educates pupils at the school on the climate and ecological emergency, climate justice, nature, sustainability, the need to cut carbon emissions to net zero as soon as is practicably possible, and associated scientific and technical knowledge and skills, and”.

(4) After subsection 78(1) insert—

“(1A) in subsection (1)(a), the promotion of the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils includes educating and enabling pupils at the school to care for and protect the natural environment in a way which preserves the environment for present and future generations.”

(5) In section 80(1) (basic curriculum for every maintained school in England), before paragraph (2) insert—

“(za) provision for education for all registered pupils at the school on the climate and ecological emergency, climate justice, nature, sustainability, the need to cut carbon emissions to net zero as soon as is practicably possible, and associated scientific and technical knowledge and skills, and”.

2 Independent and academy schools

(1) The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 1997/2010, “the 2010 regulations”) are amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4).

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), after the entry for “boarder” insert— “the “climate change emergency” and “climate justice” have the same meanings as in section 76 of the 2002 Act;”.

(3) In Schedule 1 (independent school standards), after Part 1 (quality of education provided) insert—

“PART 1A CLIMATE EDUCATION

4A The standard in this paragraph is met where the proprietor ensures that pupils at the school are educated on the climate and ecological emergency, climate justice, nature, sustainability, the need to cut carbon emissions to net zero as soon as is practicably possible, and associated scientific and technical knowledge and skills.”

(4) In Part 2 (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils), before paragraph 5(a) insert—

“(za) educates and enables pupils at the school to care for and protect the natural environment in a way which preserves the environment for present and future generations;”.

(5) Education provided by an independent school in England is not for the public benefit for the purposes of section 4 of the Charities Act (the public benefit requirement) unless the curriculum provides education that conforms to the standard in Part 1A of Schedule 1 of the 2010 regulations.

3 Vocational education

(1) The board of governors of a further education corporation in England must have regard to the need to include in vocational courses learning and teaching about climate and ecological emergency, climate justice, nature, sustainability, the need to cut carbon emissions to net zero as soon as is practicably possible, and associated scientific and technical knowledge and skills.

(2) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to further education corporations in connection with subsection (1).

4 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

(2) This Act comes into force on 1 September 2022.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Climate and Ecology Emergency Education Act 2022.

This Bill was written by The Most Honourable 1st Marquess of St Ives, The 1st Earl of St Erth, Sir /u/Sephronar KBE CT MVO PC on behalf of The Conservative and Unionist Party.

Opening Speech:

Time and time again we have shown that the Conservative and Unionist Party is the party of the climate - we have passed legislation, triumphed in climate debates, and asked many Ministers Questions on this subject. Well, once again I put this Bill to this place to further our collective education of the Climate and Ecological Emergency by starting early, educating our young people on the subject, and planting the seeds in their minds that will grow into the next climate activists over time.

We must all support measures such as this, before it becomes too late.

Amendment 1 (A01) -

Insert after Section 1 paragraph 3

(4) In Section 78 (1) (a), omit “spiritual”

And subsequently renumber paragraphs

In the new paragraph 5, omit “spiritual”

Explanatory note:

My Lords,

the requirement of spiritual development was not removed under secularisation, so this presents a good opportunity to remove it now

This was submitted by The Baron Shitterton

Amendment 2 (A02) -

Amend Section 4 (1) to read:

(1) This Act extends to England only.

Explanatory Note: only applies to England as Education is devolved to Wales and England and Wales are now separate legal jurisdictions

This was submitted by The Baron Shitterton

Lords may Vote Content, Not Content, or Present on the proposed amendments

The vote on the proposed amendments will end on the 6th July at 10pm BST