THE head of geography at Bedales School in Steep has become one of the UK’s first United Nations-accredited climate change teachers.

Paul Turner’s school is also the first in the world to teach Climate Breakdown, a series of 14 lessons using the most up-to-date science to explore ideas about energy, travel and diet.

One lesson looks at the effectiveness of planting trees to prevent climate change if everything else continues as it is, while another questions the proportions of land cover in the UK and asks pupils what might be best for nature. The curriculum was launched with an event to introduce parents and councillors to the science.

Mr Turner will give a free talk entitled Climate Change – The Facts at Petersfield Community Centre in Love Lane on February 21 at 7pm. He will provide an update on current climate science and outline what people should do to live a carbon-neutral lifestyle.

Mr Turner said: “The recent UN report outlined how little time we have to move to a net carbon neutral lifestyle and limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius. My motivation comes from wanting to make the world a happier and healthier place for people and the planet. Tackling climate change is an opportunity to improve our lives and dismantle inequality.

“As a teacher I feel a moral obligation to educate people about the current situation and communicate what we must do as a society to limit the damaging impacts of climate change. I’ve spoken to a number of audiences including teacher educators and the broader national teacher community to shift their perspective and to equip them to better address the climate and ecological emergency in their schools.”