Resources

Climate change is a major challenge to sustainable development. The ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1998. Sea-levels are rising. Rainfall patterns are changing, causing droughts and floods. Extreme weather events such as storms, cyclones and heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. Climate change poses a number of interconnected challenges, including water security, rising pressures on food production and health and disaster risks. ◗ Climate change disproportionately affects developing countries and vulnerable people within those countries, thereby seriously threatening progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA). It is already having a reverse impact on enrolment rates, the delivery of quality education and safe learning environments. ◗ Education has a key role to play in concerted local and global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. ◗ UNESCO promotes climate change education within the overall context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). ◗ UNESCO supports Member States in building the capacity of policy makers and educators to enhance the education sector response to climate change. ◗ Closer alignment of Climate Change Education with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) education contributes to safeguarding development gains and building resilience in countries vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.