Changing Degrees: a weight-of-evidence scoping review examining the impact of childhood exposures to climate change on educational outcomes

Abstract

Climate change negatively impacts several dimensions of education (including student achievement, educational infrastructure, school readiness, and other factors). Further, climate change may act as a threat multiplier for existing educational disparities. While theory links climate change to educational disparities, empirical research remains scarce and there is no current weight-of-evidence review examining climate change and education. This weight of evidence scoping review evaluates the current state of evidence assessing the effect of climate change exposures on aspects of education for youth. Studies were categorized and evaluated using the CHANGE (Climate Health ANalysis Grading Evaluation) tool for weight-of-evidence reviews and adaptions of frameworks developed for previous systematic reviews on associations between climate change and education. Thirty-one studies met review criteria and were grouped into five thematic categories based on reported outcomes: Student Learning in the Humanities, Student Learning in Math and Science, Executive Function and Cognition, Attendance and School Closures, and Educational Advancement Milestones. All studies in this review suggest that climate change exposures during childhood negatively impact aspects of education; however, in some instances the mechanisms and ways in which these climate change exposures impacted aspects of education varied by country or geographic setting. The geographic distribution of studies revealed that the United States accounted for the highest number of studies (n = 6), followed by China, India, Nigeria, Cameroon, and South Africa (n = 2 each), with 18 other countries contributing only one study each, highlighting disparities in global research coverage. Twelve of the studies included in this review examined the concept of climate change as a threat multiplier of educational disparities, but no study had it as a primary focus. Future research directions include extending studies beyond traditional test metrics, integrating diverse academic disciplines, exploring a broader array of geographic regions, delving into place-specific nuances, incorporating indigenous and community knowledge, and focusing explicitly on climate change as a threat multiplier for educational disparities.