Climate change education
Climate change education helps people understand and address the impacts of the climate crisis, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to act as agents of change. UNESCO promotes climate change education as a key component of its work in education for sustainable development.
The international community recognizes the importance of education and training to address climate change. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the associated Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) agenda call on governments to educate, empower and engage all stakeholders and major groups on policies and actions relating to climate change.
Education at the COP
Recognizing that education is crucial for empowering individuals and communities to understand and combat the challenges posed by climate change, UNESCO, as the secretariat of the Greening Education Partnership, promotes climate education as a foundational tool to foster awareness, encourage behavioral change, and equip future generations with the skills necessary to develop sustainable solutions.
At COP (Conference of the Parties) events, the organization calls on governments to prioritize investments in education systems that can address the urgent need for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, ensuring that education becomes a key enabler in the global response to the climate crisis.
Each COP serves as the occasion for the annual in-person meeting of the Greening Education Partnership, encompassing both high-level and working group sessions. This occurs in collaboration with the COP presidency, which holds a seat on the GEP Advisory Group.
Conversations on climate change education for social transformation
On the road to COP 29
UNESCO and UNFCCC are launching a series of conversations on climate change education for social transformation from May to December.
- On the road to COP29
Webinars organized from May to December 2024 - On the road to COP28
Webinars organized from May to December 2023 - On the road to COP27
Webinars organized from April to November 2022
Climate change education events at COP
United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP)
Education for sustainable development
Climate action is one of the key thematic priority of ESD for 2030, the Education for Sustainable Development’s global framework for the next 8 years. Through its programme, UNESCO has been working to make education a more central and visible part of the international response to climate change.
