Climate change education for social transformation
"The time to learn and act for our planet is now!"
Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution have led to a planetary crisis that requires an urgent response. UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls the climate crisis ‘a battle for our lives’, as we struggle to transform our societies to reach the 1.5-degree path recommended by the Paris Agreement. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world with a real, existential threat such as climate change, there is a growing call for education to enable individuals, as agents of change, to acquire knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes that lead to for the green transition of our societies, as enshrined in SDG Target 4.7, and, indeed, in the entire 2030 Agenda.
To respond to the urgent calls for action from young people to ensure every learner is equipped to tackle climate change and to promote sustainable development, as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.7, UNESCO and UNFCCC are launching a series of monthly conversations on climate change education for social transformation. This series builds on the success of the ‘On the road to Berlin’ series of 7 online workshops between 2020-2021 which brought together over 15,000 stakeholders to discuss cutting-edge ESD issues.
UNESCO-UNFCCC's webinar series consists of 8 webinars for this season, one on the last Tuesday of every month from April to November, on the road to COP27 to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 7 to 18 November 2022.
The series is organized as part of the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Hub, an initiative launched by UNFCCC and the German regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2022 to foster education and public awareness, training, public access to information, and participation in climate change action.
Tune into the first season, dedicated to the goal of greening every education policy and curriculum to be climate ready. Each episode will explore the critical role of climate change education, and how to harness its transformative power, in leading up to COP27.
Concept note
Participate
Webinar series
#2: How climate change knowledge can become action
31 May 2022
Reviews the core skills, values and actions as well as knowledge that are required for transformative climate change education that will bring about social change.
#3 Education for post-carbon green economies
28 June 2022
Discusses structural transformation towards post-carbon green economies and a 1.5-degree lifestyle, as well as how knowledge, skills, values and actions relevant to economic transition can be integrated into education policies and curricula.
#4 Now or never: Adapting teaching and learning in a changed climate
26 July 2022
Reflects on our new realities shaped by the inevitable consequences of climate change. Within this context, the conversation will examine the teaching and learning that are needed to help learners adapt and live in the changed climate, including the importance of social and emotional learning.
- Agenda
- More information
- Video recording
#5 Our future starts with you: How to become a climate change champion
30 August 2022
Reviews transformative pedagogies for civic action and the role of youth, educators and women as agents for social change.
#6 The ancient futures: Un-learning and re-learning our way towards a post-carbon future
27 September 2022
Discusses the values and practices of harmony embedded in traditional knowledge and indigenous communities across the world, and how they help us visualize a post-carbon future. Good practice stories will be shared to inspire a brighter future for collective efforts fighting against climate change.
- Agenda
- Video recording
#7 Getting ready to scale up climate change education at COP27
25 October 2022
Reviews the gaps, challenges and opportunities in promoting climate change education for social transformation in education and sustainable development policies and curriculums. The discussion will present concrete strategies to promote the greening of every education policy and curriculum, particularly around COP27.
- Agenda
- Video recording
#8 Post-COP27 climate change education: Where do we go from here?
29 November 2022
Closes Season 1 by looking back at COP27 and its key takeaways, achievements, and commitments made related to climate change education.
- Agenda
- More information
- Video recording
