Leading environmental figures have condemned Government plans to drop debate about climate change from the national curriculum for children under 14 as "unfathomable and unacceptable".
In a letter to the Sunday times, signed by academics, politicians and business leaders, they warn the proposals are shortsighted as the loss of wildlife and habitats is ongoing. Under the new draft national curriculum for England, education on the environment would start three years later than at present and all existing references to care and protection would be removed.
The letter, signed by 96 people, including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sir David Attenborough and Chris Packham says the Government has a commitment "to nurturing our children's love and respect for nature" under two binding international agreements:
The Guardian revealed last month that draft guidelines for children in key stages 1 to 3 had removed discussion of climate change in the geography syllabus, with only a single reference to how carbon dioxide produced by humans affects the climate in the chemistry section. All references to sustainable development have also been dropped in a move widely interpreted as the result of political interference.
Critics argue that the dangers of waiting until GCSE courses to teach about climate change in any depth is that only a minority of pupils study geography at that level. The Government's former science adviser, Professor Sir David King, denounced the proposals as "major political interference with the geography syllabus".
However, the Department for Education has dismissed the claims, insisting "climate and weather feature throughout the geography curriculum".
