Climate Literacy in Education

Adultism, Intergenerational Solidarity, and The Tantrum that Saved the World

Nick Kleese

University of Minnesota

Keywords: adultism, intergenerational solidarity, coalition-building, youth climate movement

Abstract

Climate literacy education endeavors to prepare young people to live well in a climate changing world. Presumably this is also the aim of literature for young people about the climate crisis, especially of books including depictions of youth activists. What interests drive these narratives? How adult perceptions of young people shape our relationship with both the texts and the young people with whom we work? Drawing examples from actual youth activists and The Tantrum that Saved the World, I suggest that checking our own potential adultism will help educators work more effectively with young people.