Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract threat; it is part of everyday life. From unpredictable weather patterns to rising air pollution, communities across Thailand and around the world are already experiencing its impacts. As these challenges intensify, education is emerging as one of the most powerful starting points for meaningful climate action.
One innovative response is Climate Box, a set of interactive climate education tools developed by the United Nations Development Programme. Designed to create dynamic classroom experiences, Climate Box uses games, quizzes and hands-on activities to connect global climate challenges with students’ daily lives. Rather than treating climate change as a theoretical topic, it encourages learners to understand, question and act.
At Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School in Samut Prakan province, Climate Box has become more than a teaching aid. Under the guidance of physics teacher Mr. Prawit Harnuparb, students are using climate knowledge to design real-world solutions that save water, reduce pollution and bring the Sustainable Development Goals into everyday practice.
Mr. Prawit has been teaching at the school for over two years with a clear goal of placing environmental issues at the center of learning. This approach has become increasingly urgent as Thailand faces growing environmental pressures, including floods, droughts and deteriorating air quality. He believes that when young people are given the right knowledge and tools, they can drive meaningful change. This belief led him to adopt Climate Box, which was introduced to schools nationwide in 2025 through a collaboration between UNDP and Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission.
Recognizing how well the materials aligned with the national curriculum, Mr. Prawit began integrating Climate Box into his physical science classes, particularly when teaching renewable energy concepts. The toolkit includes posters, games and learning materials that explore climate change, clean energy and environmental challenges from both local and global perspectives. By using interactive and activity-based methods, he transformed complex scientific concepts into tangible experiences that students could easily relate to.
Through this approach, students began to see climate change not as a distant global issue, but as something closely connected to their own lives and communities. Classroom discussions became more engaging, collaboration increased, and curiosity flourished as students actively participated in problem-solving rather than passively absorbing information.
This shift from awareness to action sparked innovation. Inspired by Climate Box lessons, four students—Wirat Kladcay, Natnicha Sanitkum, Rinlada Muensoontorn and Chotiga Rueangkaeo—developed the BDS Smart Farm project, a solar-powered smart irrigation system designed to conserve water. The idea grew from their observations of farmers struggling with water scarcity.
The system uses soil moisture sensors to regulate irrigation automatically, ensuring crops receive sufficient water without waste. Powered entirely by solar energy, it operates independently of household electricity, demonstrating how renewable energy solutions can be applied in practical, community-focused ways. Through this project, students directly linked classroom learning with real agricultural challenges.
Building on this success, the students adapted their innovation to address another urgent issue: air pollution. By modifying the system, they created the BDS Dust Free Zone, an automated mist-spraying solution designed to reduce PM2.5 pollution in shared spaces. Soil sensors were replaced with air-quality sensors, and the system was reprogrammed to respond to pollution levels by releasing fine mist that traps airborne dust particles. Like the original design, the system runs on solar energy and has been installed in a school pavilion, helping create a cleaner and safer environment for students and the surrounding community.
For Mr. Prawit, these outcomes demonstrate the multiplier effect of education. When students are empowered with knowledge and practical tools, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Ideas developed at school can influence families, communities and future career paths. Climate Box, in this sense, functions as a bridge between knowledge and action.
More than a teaching resource, Climate Box enables educators to foster critical thinking, creativity and responsibility among young people. It helps students see themselves not just as learners, but as problem-solvers and agents of change. Through education that inspires curiosity and innovation, climate action becomes tangible, achievable and deeply personal—bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to life, one classroom at a time.
