Unlocking the Power of Energy Education: A Pathway to Innovation and Stewardship

By: Mila Mezei, Education Program Lead at Inside Education Society of Alberta

Mila Mezei, Education Program Lead at Inside Education Society of Alberta, reflects on personal experiences with climate change education and stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to energy education. Strategies, including curriculum integration, focus on innovation, and experiential learning are vital for effective energy and climate education.

I remember the first time I learned about climate change. It was grade 7 science class and we watched a video that showed sea levels rising, forests burning and near-apocalyptic scenes. It was scary and I left feeling deflated, hopeless and disempowered.

Students building a hydrogen car

I remember the first time I got into an argument about climate change. It was lunch hour in grade 11 and a group of students from the Young Conservative Club came into our Roots & Shoots Environmental Club meeting to protest our climate change awareness efforts. I didn’t properly listen to their perspectives and they didn’t properly listen to mine. 

I remember the first time I questioned my own approach to taking action on climate change. It was my second year of university and I was about to join a group of my fellow Environment & Sustainability students who were leaving campus to protest a proposed pipeline. I asked a few of them what the pipeline was going to carry, and they didn’t know. I didn’t know either. 

Students in the base of a wind turbine as part of Inside Education’s Medicine Hat Energy Innovation Day

To take action on climate change, we need to understand what’s causing it and what can be done to mitigate it. To understand that, we need to know how to parse through complicated information, listen to multiple perspectives and think critically. And we need to start learning these skills from a young age. In a country where energy and climate are persistent topics of debate and terms like the ‘energy transition’, ‘climate crisis’ and ‘net zero’ frequent headlines, providing young people with the tools to unpack and understand these topics is essential. By equipping young people with the tools to navigate complex discussions and consider diverse viewpoints, we can lay the foundation for informed decision-making and responsible stewardship into the future.

“In a country where energy and climate are persistent topics of debate and terms like the ‘energy transition’, ‘climate crisis’ and ‘net zero’ frequent headlines, providing young people with the tools to unpack and understand these topics is essential”

Mila Mezei

I remember when I joined Inside Education and learned how to unlock the power the energy education through programs that are built on the following foundations:

  • Connect to the curriculum → For teachers to be able to spend time discussing energy and climate topics in the classroom, it has to connect to the curriculum. The curriculum has direct links to energy and climate topics (for example, electricity is a big part of Alberta’s grade 9 science curriculum), but cross-curricular connections can be drawn as well – from  discussions on land use and Indigenous perspectives in social studies to the application of math in energy output and efficiency calculations, energy education offers a rich tapestry of learning opportunities.
  • Experiential learning → What’s the best way to understand the scale and power of a wind turbine? To stand under one! Connect with local energy producers and innovators to arrange speakers and tours so youth can experience firsthand the energy and climate innovations in their community. People love helping young people, so it’s always worth an ask!
  • Keep it futures & innovations focused → While it is important to share the facts and realities of climate change, it is also important that youth leave feeling hopeful and empowered. A way to do that is by sharing positive stories and innovations. While there is no silver bullet solution to the climate crisis, there are innovations in renewable energy and the fossil fuel sector that are paving the way towards a more sustainable energy future, and highlighting these innovations signals to youth that positive things are happening and gives them ideas about how they can get involved.
  • Highlight multiple perspectives → Bringing together reputable voices from academia, advocacy, industry and government, students learn how to unpack complicated information and gain key critical thinking skills. For youth and adults alike, it’s easy to end up in an echo chamber and only hear one perspective – learning to recognize when that’s happened and pull yourself out to hear different perspectives is critical.
  • Stewardship → The backbone of energy and climate education is stewardship, and it is important that young people feel empowered to be stewards. Share simple everyday actions like choosing to bike instead of drive, alongside ideas for school action projects and careers so youth feel empowered to take action, contribute to a sustainable energy future, and become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond.
Senior High students at an oilsands reclamation site on Inside Education’s Fort McMurray Energy Innovation Day

“For youth and adults alike, it’s easy to end up in an echo chamber and only hear one perspective – learning to recognize when that’s happened and pull yourself out to hear different perspectives is critical”

Mila Mezei

Energy and climate education isn’t just about teaching facts and figures; it’s about equipping youth with the ability to navigate the complexities of these topics and sparking a passion for innovation, stewardship and positive change. Together, let’s unlock the power of energy education and pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.