Poets Inspire Climate Action in UK Schools Through Uplifting Verse

As of November 2025, a UK-based initiative called "Hot Poets Ignite" is working to bring climate change education to schools through the power of poetry. The program has matched more than 20 poets with climate scientists to create original poems for children, covering topics like renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and even whale poo.

The goal of the initiative is to talk to students about the urgency of climate action, while avoiding the "sense of doom or guilt" that can sometimes surround discussions of the climate crisis. According to author Michael Rosen, who has written one of the poems, the poems aim to convey "an element of optimism, hope, and trying to avoid the sense of guilt."

The "Hot Poets" program is targeting key stage 2 and younger key stage 3 pupils, as children and young people are increasingly experiencing climate anxiety and a sense of existential threat. Co-director Chris Redmond says the current curriculum focuses too much on problems rather than solutions, and the program hopes to change that narrative.

Schools across the UK can apply to have the "Hot Poets" visit and perform their climate-themed verses. The initiative has also developed educational resources in partnership with leading climate research institutions, including video lessons led by Rosen himself. By weaving climate education through creative mediums like poetry, the program aims to inspire the next generation to take action and find hope in the face of the climate crisis.