Coding  For Climate: Building Student Agency One Code at A Time

Please join us at the The Coding For Climate Webinar on April 24th, 2025 8-10am EST to celebrate learning with classrooms across the globe. 

Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, is a cross curricular pedagogy that puts innovation and creativity at the forefront of student learning. Technology, especially, is a key focus in today’s public education. Digital skills are linked to using technology as a tool for learning, however, there are many other abilities being strengthened as well. When we look closer at skills and technology, we see that executive functioning, problem solving, and resiliency are among those top capabilities being strengthened in young people’s learning. 

Coding is a way to boost important fundamental competencies while allowing learners to have fun and play at the same time. According to Tynker, Coding is the method of giving a computer instructions to perform a specific task. These coding tasks require careful thinking, patience, and problem solving. When coding is introduced to young students, it becomes a tool for growth, well beyond the typical association with technology, and specifically computers. 

Companies like LEGO Group, Scratch, and Tynker, are creating age-appropriate code learning that blurs the lines of traditional learning and what might be considered “play.” There are endless possibilities for students to engage with ideas about thinking green, and learning about green skills that incorporate sustainability and environmental education. 

Take for example Action Global’s initiative, Coding For Climate, which provides a program that links coding and climate together authentically, with real world climate problem solving.

When students code to solve climate challenges, they see their impact in real time. It builds their skills, confidence, and commitment to a sustainable future.

Dr. Jennifer Williams, Executive Director, Take Action Global

This real world application is exactly what kind of connections children need to be making to develop motivation and agency as they grow into adults. When we present students with a climate problem and use coding as the means to solve it, we naturally allow students to build green skills. These green skills are necessary for their future. 

For children to develop an understanding of the world around them, specifically as environmental stewards, we look towards organizations like EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) to support student action and learning in relevant and age appropriate ways. 

Educators are innovative and understand the needs of their students. They want to bring science into the classroom in a fun way that allows students to grow as learners.

Emily Walker, Education Coordinator, EARTHDAY.ORG

Learning is global. Climate Change is global. By providing easy to access, and free resources, to children all over the world, we can increase resource accessibility. Take Action Global and EARTHDAY.ORG offer free resources and access to other materials to bridge the gap of inequity. Access to learning resources is part of the rights to quality and equitable education, or the global education goal, SDG 4. 

The mission of climate education at EDO is for all students to possess a comprehensive understanding of how their actions can mitigate climate change impacts in their community and beyond because no cohort or community or country is immune to its impacts. 

Nearly 258 million students have spent periods of time not in school. With climate change impacting some communities, especially in the Global South,  disproportionately, we must provide all students with opportunities for learning to overcome the hurdles they will face from climate change and education inequity. 

It is by providing throughlines of climate action and learning, that students can overcome,adapt and grow. That is why, TAG and EDO, are committed to providing space for all learners and are knitting together a community of action oriented young people and support for learners.

Which is why we are excited to invite everyone to join  The Coding For Climate Webinar on April 24th, 2025 8-10 EST. This will be an opportunity to share and celebrate student work in this critically important area of coding in the classroom!

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