GreenFutures is a free Transition Year programme for secondary schools in Ireland exploring artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, sustainability and digital technology.
Developed by the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre in partnership with UNESCO and supported by Huawei Ireland, the four-lesson programme provides teachers with classroom-ready resources to help students understand how AI and digital technologies can support climate action, and explore the environmental, ethical and social questions they raise.
Through interactive lessons, real-world case studies, discussion and student activities, GreenFutures connects AI education, climate literacy and sustainability education in an accessible format designed specifically for Transition Year.
GreenFutures is designed to make it easy for teachers to bring these important topics into the classroom.
Each lesson includes ready-to-use resources, including presentations, teacher guidance and student activities. The four lessons can be delivered together as a complete GreenFutures module or used individually, giving teachers the flexibility to choose what works best for their students and available class time.
→ No coding experience or specialist knowledge of AI is required.
Curriculum Links
GreenFutures is designed to align with the NCCA Transition Year Programme Statement and provides a flexible, cross-curricular learning experience relevant to areas including Science, Geography, CSPE and Digital Media.
Through investigation, discussion, collaborative activities and reflection, students have opportunities to develop critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration and information-processing skills, while becoming more confident in questioning evidence, considering different perspectives and making informed choices about the technologies shaping their lives.
The four lessons take students on a journey from understanding climate change and data, through artificial intelligence and sustainable systems, to climate justice, green innovation and the futures they can help shape.
Explore climate change through data and discover how scientists use artificial intelligence and digital technologies to understand environmental change, monitor biodiversity and respond to climate challenges.
Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) works, how it is being used to tackle climate and environmental challenges, and the ethical questions, risks and limitations students need to understand. This Transition Year lesson uses real-world examples to build AI literacy and critical thinking.
Explore how energy, nature, food and cities can become more sustainable, and how technology and innovation can support climate action. This Transition Year lesson uses real-world Irish examples to help students understand the systems shaping a sustainable future.
Explore climate justice, fairness and green innovation while encouraging students to imagine more sustainable futures. This Transition Year lesson uses futures thinking to examine who benefits from change and empowers young people to consider the role they can play in shaping a fairer, greener future.
Continue Your AI Learning
GreenFutures can be complemented by other free ADAPT resources designed to build AI understanding among students and teachers.
For students: AI in My Life
Explore the AI in My Life Taster Lesson, an accessible introduction that helps secondary school students recognise how artificial intelligence already influences their everyday lives and consider some of the questions it raises.
For teachers: AI Literacy in the Classroom
Build your own understanding of AI with the free, 90-minute AI Literacy in the Classroom online course. Designed specifically for secondary school teachers, the self-paced course provides a practical introduction to AI and explores its implications for students, classrooms and society.
