Italy is making climate change study mandatory in schools

Italian Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti argues that the "21st century citizen must be a sustainable citizen," and he's changing the country's curriculum for students accordingly.

Starting next year, students in all grade levels will learn about climate change, the climate emergency, and sustainability. Fioramonti made the announcement on Tuesday, saying Italy will be the first country in the world to make learning about these topics compulsory. "I want to make the Italian education system the first education system that puts the environment and society at the core of everything we learn in school," Fioramonti told Reuters.

The topics will be worked into existing geography, math, and physics lessons. Environmental experts are working on the curriculum, and teachers are scheduled for training in January. Schools will be required to teach 33 hours worth of lessons on climate change and sustainability every year.

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