Events

At the annual UN Climate Summit (COPs), UNESCO and partners organize a series of events to highlight the important of climate change education and encourage countries to include strong education commitments in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Education is the most powerful element in preparing societies for the global challenges that climate change brings. It can bring about a fundamental shift in how we think and act. Through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), UNESCO seeks to equip individuals and communities with the understanding, skills and attitudes to engage in shaping a green, low emission and climate-resilient future. UNESCO advocates for making education a more central and visible part of the international response to climate change. It seeks to support countries to mainstream climate change into their education systems and to help people understand the causes and impact of global warming today.

Are you attending COP 25 in Madrid this year? Come meet UNESCO’s climate change education experts and learn about our work at Booth #2 (Blue Zone) all day on Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 December, or join one of our side events:

MONDAY 9 DECEMBER

16:00-16:45: “Changing Minds, Not the Climate – UNESCO Designated Sites, Education and Youth for Enhanced Ambition” – side event in the civil society area (Green Zone) co-organized by UNESCO’s Education and Natural Sciences Sector.

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER

13:00-15:00: High-level event on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE): “Raising ambition and fostering implementation of the Paris Agreement through education, training, public awareness, public access to information, public participation and international cooperation” (Blue Zone, room tbc). Bringing together ministers of environment and education from different countries, as well as non-Party stakeholders, this event will highlight the role of education as a key driver in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Organized by UNFCCC and UNESCO in collaboration with the COP Presidency.
In addition, UNESCO education experts will speak at two panels on “Raising Ambition for Climate Action” organized by UNFCCC at the Capacity-building Hub, from 9:00-11:00 (high-level panel) and from 17:30-18:30 (technical panel).

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER

15:00: Video interview in the Climate Action Studio: Alexander Leicht, UNESCO Chief of Education for Sustainable Development will discuss SDG 4 and ESD. Follow via live stream on the Climate Action Studio YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbUPgmmKUTzRmspKM9DpuQ (link is external)
In addition, Alexander Leicht will speak at a roundtable on ESD and Climate Change organized by the Spanish Ministry of Education from 17:30-20:30.

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER

18:30-20:00: ONE UN side event on SDG4: “Learning for Climate Action - Implementing the Paris Agreement through Education, Training and Skills Development” (Blue Zone, Room 3). This event, organized with the UN Alliance on Action for Climate Empowerment, will be split in two sessions: A first panel will discuss good practices in a comprehensive approach to climate change, education and learning involving multiple partners. A second one will address existing needs, challenges and opportunities to scale-up action and investment in climate change education, training and skills development.