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Climate Change and the Role of Education pp 149–167Cite as

Addressing Climate Change at a Much Younger Age Than just at the Decision-Making Level: Perceptions from Primary School Teachers in Fiji

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Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

This study uses an explanatory design to investigate the role of primary education in addressing climate change in primary schools in Fiji. A self-administered questionnaire (N = 30) was conducted with primary school teachers from 14 primary schools in Fiji. Using frequency analysis, all teachers perceived that addressing climate change at a much younger age is more effective than just addressing it at the decision-making level. Furthermore, a Kendall tau-b was performed, and identified a significant correlation between the primary school teachers’ location and recommendations for further training on climate change (τb = .59, p < .001) and work relevance and climate evaluation (τb = .6, p < .001). The same factors (e.g. work relevancy, helping primary education adapt to climate change, etc.) were explored qualitatively using desktop review, literature search and found addressing climate change at a much younger age to be significant. These results are expected to perfect not only the role of primary education but to contribute significantly to the achievements of a climate-resilient Fiji by 2030 and beyond.

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Acknowledgements

The SPC/GIZ CCCPIR Programme in Suva supported this research, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji, the School of Humanities (Geography), at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK and the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PaCE-SD, USP, Lower Campus, Laucala, Suva, Fiji

    Peni Hausia Havea & Antoine De Ramon N’ Yeurt

  2. Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Suva, Fiji

    Apenisa Tamani

  3. Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Anuantaeka Takinana

  4. School of Humanities, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, LN1 3DY, Lincoln, UK

    Sarah L. Hemstock

  5. National Disaster Management Office, Government of Marshall Islands, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands

    Hélène Jacot Des Combes

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  1. Peni Hausia Havea
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  2. Apenisa Tamani
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  3. Anuantaeka Takinana
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  4. Antoine De Ramon N’ Yeurt
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  5. Sarah L. Hemstock
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  6. Hélène Jacot Des Combes
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Correspondence to Peni Hausia Havea .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Geography, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK

    Sarah L. Hemstock

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Havea, P.H., Tamani, A., Takinana, A., De Ramon N’ Yeurt, A., Hemstock, S.L., Des Combes, H.J. (2019). Addressing Climate Change at a Much Younger Age Than just at the Decision-Making Level: Perceptions from Primary School Teachers in Fiji. In: Leal Filho, W., Hemstock, S. (eds) Climate Change and the Role of Education. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32898-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32898-6_9

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