Al Gore's film won the Oscar for best documentary in February

Environment Minister Carwyn Jones said An Inconvenient Truth, which won the best documentary Oscar, would be a "valuable resource".

It looks at the scientific evidence for the causes and likely impacts of global warming.

A package of education materials will be issued along with the DVD.

The move is part of the Welsh Assembly Government's drive to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and will cost £5,000.

It follows a similar idea for Scottish schools.

Mr Jones said: "I doubt that anyone could now deny the reality of climate change, so it is important that we all have access to accurate, reliable information to help us understand the issue fully.

We all have a duty to protect our environment and this involves changing the mindset of future generations Jane Davidson

"We are considering what further material and resources we can make available in the longer term to support teachers and students in considering the issues surrounding climate change."

Education Minister Jane Davidson said the film would be a "useful" resource for teachers.

"This film will help raise awareness of climate change and the measures we can take to reduce its impact," she said.

'Threaten'

Neil Crumpton, from Friends of the Earth Cymru, welcomed the move and said it would raise awareness in young people, who could then influence their parents and peers.

"Climate change will threaten our children more than it will threaten ourselves and children often bring awareness to their parents," he said.

But he said the assembly government could have done more to raise awareness about climate change "a lot earlier".

"Friends of the Earth Cymru and others called on the Welsh Assembly Government to launch a climate change media campaign at least five years ago," he said.

Other assembly government activities to help raise awareness of climate change issues in schools and colleges include developing content on the National Grid for Learning website.