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Markus Spiske / Unsplash
Markus Spiske / Unsplash

Climate action and literacy

The world is undeniably facing a climate emergency. As defenders of truth and science, teachers are mobilising for climate justice and literacy.

We are working to ensure climate change education is taught in schools across the world to equip students with the critical knowledge they need in their daily lives and to inform their choices as active citizens. We advocate for climate education to be integrated into curricula, initial teacher training and continuous professional development and for education to be recognised as a key tool in the fight against climate change.

Together with students, with the global trade union movement and civil society partners, we advocate for a just transition in order to secure workers’ rights and livelihoods as economies shift to sustainable production.

Our work in this area

  1. News 3 December 2021

    Education International and UNESCO report: Teachers motivated to teach sustainable development and global citizenship but need more support

    Education International and UNESCO have launched a joint report on teacher readiness for global citizenship education and education for sustainable development . The survey focused on four key topics: education on climate change, sustainable consumption and production, tolerance and cultural diversity, and human rights including gender equality.

    Education International and UNESCO report: Teachers motivated to teach sustainable development and global citizenship but need more support
  2. Research

    Teachers have their say: Motivation, skills and opportunities to teach education for sustainable development and global citizenship

    Report of global teacher survey conducted by Education International and UNESCO
    24 November 2021

    Teachers have the power to help learners develop the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to address global challenges and contribute to the building of a more just, peaceful, sustainable world. However, this global survey of 58,000 teachers, conducted by UNESCO and Education International, shows that while many teachers are motivated,...

    Teachers have their say: Motivation, skills and opportunities to teach education for sustainable development and global citizenship
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  3. News 22 November 2021

    Iraq: Climate change, a top priority for educators

    Acknowledging that climate change is one of the most important global issues, the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union (KTU) has reaffirmed its commitment to push the regional government to insert climate change education into the curriculum and to take other necessary measures on climate change.

    Iraq: Climate change, a top priority for educators
  4. News 16 November 2021

    Taiwan: Climate literacy at heart of teacher union’s activities

    The National Teachers’ Association (NTA) of Taiwan seized the occasion of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to reaffirm its commitment to see climate change education (CCE) inserted in curricula at all education levels. COP26 was held in Glasgow from 31 October-12 November.

    Taiwan: Climate literacy at heart of teacher union’s activities
  5. Worlds of Education 9 November 2021

    In France, the role of Sustainable Development Advisor in schools

    Émeline is a Life and Earth Sciences teacher and Sustainable Development Advisor. After 10 years in a REP+ (Priority Education Network) in the Créteil academy, Émeline arrived at the François Perron secondary school in Cerilly. It is a rural school, north of Montluçon in the Allier department, with 108 pupils....

    In France, the role of Sustainable Development Advisor in schools
  6. News 5 November 2021

    COP26 event | Teaching for climate action: Schools shaping the future

    Event co-organised by the OECD, Education International, and UNESCO

    The education sector has a unique role to play in building a greener twenty-first century. The OECD, Education International, and UNESCO have launched a joint initiative to gather teaching expertise on what makes a difference in empowering students for climate action.

    COP26 event | Teaching for climate action: Schools shaping the future
  7. News 5 November 2021

    COP26 event | Roundtable: Why climate literacy and civic skill building will solve the climate crisis – Answers from civil society, educators, and governments

    The discussion highlights EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate and Environmental Literacy Campaign and its mission to ensure every school worldwide has integrated, assessed climate and environmental education with a strong education component.

    COP26 event | Roundtable: Why climate literacy and civic skill building will solve the climate crisis – Answers from civil society, educators, and governments
  8. News 5 November 2021

    COP 26 dispatch: Net-zero, carbon markets and quality climate education

    Alanah Torralba

    Activists and the private sector are clashing over ‘net zero’ and carbon markets at COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. At the crucial climate talks, activists such as Greta Thunberg slammed the recent announcement of UN finance ambassador Mark Carney that more than 450 financial institutions under the banner Glasgow Financial...

    COP 26 dispatch: Net-zero, carbon markets and quality climate education
  9. News 4 November 2021

    COP26 dispatch: Global leaders meet at COP26 as the world demands urgent climate action

    Alanah Torralba

    COP 26, slated as the most important climate summit since the Paris Agreement was forged in 2015, kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland last Monday with a series of statements from high-level actors, ranging from heads of state, business leaders, activists, and prominent media personalities.

    COP26 dispatch: Global leaders meet at COP26 as the world demands urgent climate action
  10. News 3 November 2021

    COP26 | Climate Action Day

    Climate Action Day is a live, online event produced by Take Action Global, that serves as the culminating celebration of the Climate Action Project, a six-week initiative involving 2.7 million people across 145 countries.

    COP26 | Climate Action Day
  11. Worlds of Education 3 November 2021

    Who’s making the grade on climate change education ambition?

    Christina Kwauk

    The release of the 6th IPCC report on the physical science of climate change this year raised the alarm around the urgency to act on the climate crisis. Clearly, global leaders did not heed the previous five alarms nor did they listen to recent calls to increase the ambition of...

    Who’s making the grade on climate change education ambition?
  12. Worlds of Education 2 November 2021

    Aotearoa New Zealand, education unions and climate change

    Liam Rutherford

    Aotearoa New Zealand is in a privileged position, along with a small number of other countries, of being relatively COVID-free. We do face many challenges that the rest of the world often doesn’t hear about – such as serious pollution of our waterways, extreme levels of poverty and inequality, a...

    Aotearoa New Zealand, education unions and climate change
  13. News 29 October 2021

    Educators call on world leaders at COP26 to ensure quality climate education for all

    World leaders are meeting in Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October to 12 November for the UN Climate Conference (COP26). As they decide the way forward in the fight against climate change, the educators of the world call on them to prioritise education in their climate strategies and ensure climate literacy...

    Educators call on world leaders at COP26 to ensure quality climate education for all
  14. Worlds of Education 29 October 2021

    Need tools for climate change education? Try the bicycle model 

    Dr. Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori, Dr. Sakari Tolppanen

    Climate change is the biggest environmental challenge of our time, which is why it is also a central theme in education. However, in many countries, climate change education is still viewed and implemented from a narrow perspective, the focus being mainly on knowledge development. Though knowledge is important, climate change...

    Need tools for climate change education? Try the bicycle model 
  15. News 25 October 2021

    Seven things to know about COP 26: A quick guide for education unionists

    Alanah Torralba

    After a one-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders, negotiators, civil society representatives and key stakeholders will be convening for the UN climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12. The two-week conference aims to mobilise urgently needed climate action in order to meet the...

    Seven things to know about COP 26: A quick guide for education unionists