Climate in the Curriculum
A campaign that advocates for better representation and awareness of the climate crisis in every department's curriculum.
We are excited to relaunch this programme in 2024.
The University of Oxford is one of the largest institutions of climate research globally, so we feel that its students should be given the tools and information they need to tackle and understand climate change, and to prepare us for the world we will inherit.
Oxford produces world leaders, Nobel prize winners, Oscar Nominees and individuals who will be shaping our world for years to come, our theory of change is that every one of them is aware of climate change, how it relates to their discipline and how they can be a force for good.
In March 2018, we published an open letter outlining the necessity for better climate change coverage in many undergraduate degrees. In 2020, we're pushing harder for these goals through a coordinated network of engaged students and staff, with many opportunities to contribute and learn. In 2024 we are re launching this programme with a focus on alternative reading lists and the incorporation of climate related materials into more subject reading lists.
Reading for the Climate: Alternative reading lists for the future
We have constructed alternative reading lists for most subject areas taught at Oxford. These reading list contain resources that show the unique connections of each field of study to climate change and how students from these disciplines can contribute to developing solutions.
We hope in time these reading lists will be incorporated into a formal part of the curriculum and that academics in various departments will ensure their students are reading about climate change. In the meantime we encourage you to use and share these reading lists regardless of whether they are a formal part of your curriculum.
What You Can Do:
Discuss with your tutors and course convenors about including more climate related material in your course reading list (using our reading lists). Use our reading list for your subject to start a discussion with the teaching staff in your course about including some climate related material in your course reading list.
Ensure your class mates learn about the relevance of climate to your subject area even if it’s not formally on the reading list! Share our reading lists with your course mates in your class what’s app group, email list or via your class representatives to ensure they know about the relationship between your field of study, climate change and how they can be a force for good.
Additional Resources:
Read this Cherwell article to hear from some of our own committee members and senior member, Professor Myles Allen, talking about why we need the campaign.
Read our opinion piece to hear more about why these changes are necessary - and why we, and the University, are ready for them.