EU-Backed SchoolFan Initiative Engages 350 Students in Climate Misinformation Fight Across Southern Europe

## EU-Backed SchoolFan Initiative Engages 350 Students in Climate Misinformation Fight Across Southern Europe A European Union-supported educational initiative developed under the Erasmus+ programme is set to present the outcomes of a two-year project aimed at tackling climate misinformation among young people across four southern European nations. The SchoolFan project, which engaged approximately 350 students in Spain, France, Portugal, and Greece, has produced what organisers describe as a 'pioneering model of citizen science' designed to equip the next generation with the critical thinking tools needed to identify and counter false or misleading climate narratives. According to a PR Newswire release, the initiative marks the culmination of sustained collaborative work across multiple national education systems, reflecting growing concern within European institutions about the spread of climate-related misinformation and its potential to undermine public support for decarbonisation efforts. ### Relevance to the Maritime Sector While the SchoolFan project is primarily an educational initiative, its implications extend to industries — including maritime — that are navigating the complex public and regulatory landscape surrounding climate change. The shipping industry, which accounts for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is under increasing pressure from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union, and other regulatory bodies to accelerate its decarbonisation trajectory. Public understanding and acceptance of climate science is increasingly viewed as a foundational element for the social licence that underpins ambitious environmental regulation. Initiatives that strengthen climate literacy among younger generations may, over time, contribute to a more informed electorate and workforce — both of which will shape the regulatory and commercial environment in which the maritime industry operates. ### Citizen Science as a Policy Tool The project's use of citizen science methodology — engaging students as active participants in data collection and analysis rather than passive recipients of information — reflects a broader trend in European environmental policy toward participatory approaches. Such models have been piloted in coastal and marine contexts as well, with youth groups contributing to marine biodiversity monitoring and ocean health assessments. The formal presentation of the SchoolFan outcomes is expected to offer a replicable framework that other EU member states and educational institutions could adopt, potentially broadening the reach of climate literacy programmes across Europe's coastal and maritime communities. *Source: PR Newswire*