For several years, youth around the globe have been striking for immediate and effective action to the climate crisis. While many adults, world leaders, and educators have supported these efforts, there has also been no lack of criticism aimed at the students. Much of the criticism involves suggesting, or outright stating, that children should be in school learning instead of striking. But when faced with a scary and uncertain future, what role does education play in times of climate crisis?

One group of university professors and activists are grappling with this question. They recently created a “Call to Action” for educators, asking signatories to “transform their pedagogies, and curricula, realign research agendas, and reformulate policy frameworks” in the context of the climate crisis. 

This group is asking another question, and that is: “What is the role of the educational system in producing this unsustainable state we are observing right now, and what could be the contribution of the educational system in moving us forward to a more sustainable direction.”

They admit the values of education are part of how we created an unsustainable world. Perhaps, education is even more responsible that we would like to admit. The people of the world are now more educated than ever before in the history of the planet, and yet we are the nearest to environmental breakdown. Our educational system is designed to maintain a capitalist status quo, where future laborers are socialized into desiring economic growth at all costs. It’s time to rethink our education system.

As Greta Thunberg said, “We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules because the rules have to change.”

Listen to the full discussion below.