Equipping Future Climate and Health Advocates: Piloting a Locally Focused Health Effects of Climate Change Curriculum in Providence County Schools

Background Climate change poses significant risks to human health, particularly for future generations, making it imperative to integrate climate education into school curricula. This study evaluates the feasibility of expanding the Health Effects of Climate Change Curriculum (HECCC) from Baltimore, MD, to urban youth in Providence County, Rhode Island. Developed by the Lung Health Ambassadors Programme (LHAP) at Johns Hopkins University, the HECCC is an interdisciplinary curriculum aimed at educating students on the health impacts of climate change and empowering them to take local action. Methods During the 2023–2024 school year, the HECCC was adapted and piloted in five public schools in Providence County. The curriculum consisted of four lessons: climate science, air quality and heat, food and water, and health equity and environmental justice. Each lesson series was tailored to meet the unique needs of the participating schools, including a variety of delivery methods, with some schools integrating the curriculum into regular class hours and others as an after-school programme. Evaluation metrics included student reach, engagement, and pre-and post survey results. Results The HECCC was taught to 195 students from fourth through twelfth grades in Providence County schools. Students demonstrated engagement via non-verbal cues (e.g. smiling, nodding) and asked questions throughout the lessons. Based on pilot pre- and post-survey results from students (N = 10) and teachers (N = 3), the curriculum appeared to increase students’ knowledge of climate change, health impacts, and environmental justice, as well as their self-efficacy in addressing these issues. An increase in climate anxiety was also noted. Teachers reported improved confidence in discussing climate change with students, but noted barriers such as limited resources and time for students taking meaningful action. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a locally curated HECCC in an urban setting. The study elicited teacher recommendations for further expansion, broader language translations, and increased survey participation. Future plans involve expanding educator resources such as an educator’s toolkit to facilitate the curriculum’s adaptation in other communities. Overall, the HECCC shows promise in fostering climate and health literacy among urban youth, equipping them to be informed advocates for local environmental justice.