Bristol now has its first official climate change teacher after completing UN-accredited course

Pupils in a Bristol school will soon learn from an official climate change teacher for the first time.

Bristol Grammar School (BGS) geography teacher Rachel Atkins has successfully completed a United Nations-accredited course devoted to one of the most pressing issues facing the world today.

She said: “I am delighted to be one of the first Climate Change Teachers in the country and the first in Bristol.”

The online course, launched back in April, is free for all primary and secondary teachers and gives them the knowledge to deliver lessons on climate change across the curriculum.

Sir David Attenborough, appearing here during last month's Glastonbury Festival, has done much to raise awareness of climate change (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Mrs Atkins said the course was “really inspiring” and will help children to better understand the evidence of climate change, as well as the impact of the phenomenon.

She said: “Providing avenues for children to hear and respond to climate change issues is really important.”

BGS, located on University Road, claims to be at the “forefront” of raising awareness of climate change.

It has removed single-use plastics from the dining hall, installed energy-efficient lighting and heating, and cut down on the amount of letters sent out.

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