"Children today are understandably growing up worried about how climate change will affect their lives," said Climate Change Minister James Shaw.

"They see the simple fact that every year they have been alive has been one of the hottest on record and they expect us to act.

"Our zero carbon legislation is an important framework for lasting change, but its success depends on all of us working every single day to take the ambitious action we need. Making this resource available means children will be able learn about what we have done to the planet, its potential impacts and what they can to help us solve the problem."

The course has been designed for years seven to 10 - ages 11 to 14.

Last year saw thousands of students around New Zealand - and the world - protest world leaders' lack of action on combating climate change, many inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019.

Last year was New Zealand's fourth-hottest on record, according to NIWA.