Report to Society 2024

Environmental

Education and climate protection

Education embraces the challenge of climate change

In 2024, the 1.5-degree limit for global warming was exceeded for the first time, thereby missing the Paris climate target. The need for action is greater than ever. Nevertheless, the multiple crises and geopolitical upheavals of recent years have pushed climate change into the background of many people’s consciousness. This makes it all the more important to gradually embed the topic in educational institutions. After all, knowledge and understanding of the interrelationships are an important basis for appropriate action.

In this area, Bayerische Sparkassenstiftung is implementing two pioneering projects that make climate change tangible and understandable for schoolchildren. One of these is a climate kit of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, funded with EUR 890,000. The kit is called “Klimakoffer” and contains set-ups and materials for 12 experiments that clearly explain the scientific correlations of climate change to pupils – from the albedo effect to ocean acidification and the importance of tipping points in the system. The project was initiated by the astrophysicist Dr Cecilia Scorza-Lesch and her husband, the astrophysicist and TV presenter Professor Harald Lesch, who aim not only to raise awareness of climate change with their kit, but ideally also to spark enthusiasm for STEM subjects.

€890,000
in funding from the Bayerische Sparkassenstiftung
for the climate kit "Klimakoffer"

With the help of the Bayerische Sparkassenstiftung, the “Klimakoffer” has started its journey through educational institutions, initially at grammar schools. It has even been compulsory in Year 9 there since 2023. In 2024, it will gradually be introduced at the state’s secondary schools. In the meantime, however, the flagship project is not limited to the Free State of Bavaria. In Krefeld, for example, the Foundation “Sparkassenstiftung SPORT & Umwelt Krefeld” has taken up the project and equipped all secondary schools in the city with three kits each and a thermal imaging camera. Total value: EUR 42,000.

A second educational project launched by the Bayerische Sparkassenstiftung in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Cultural Affairs is the competition about Sponge City concepts called Schwamm| statt| Hitze. It is intended to motivate young people from the 8th grade onwards to think about possible adaptation measures to climate change. Participants had until the end of June 2024 to submit creative proposals for Sponge City projects in their neighbourhood. The winner was the climate working group from Königsbrunn grammar school, which can now use the prize money of EUR 25,000 to realise its idea of greening the facade of the school building.

The success and positive response of both projects show that engaging young people with climate change not only imparts knowledge, but can also spark ideas and commitment, thereby promoting self-efficacy.