Climate Education Takes Off Worldwide

In a monumental effort to ensure that every student in the world has access to climate education, the Climate Education Coalition (CEC) is leading the charge. The CEC is an international organization comprised of more than 100 organizations and individuals from over 40 countries. Their objective is simple and clear - to get climate education into schools worldwide. The CEC has launched an open letter calling on governments, educators, businesses, and civil society organizations around the world to join their mission and support climate education for all students. The letter states that “climate change poses a major threat to our planet’s future and it is essential that young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to understand this complex issue.” The CEC believes that providing quality climate education in schools will empower young people with the tools they need to become agents of change in their communities. It will also help them develop skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, creativity, innovation, digital literacy and communication which are necessary for them to succeed in today’s global economy. In addition to launching their open letter campaign, the CEC has also developed a range of resources for teachers who want to incorporate climate education into their classrooms. These include lesson plans, activities and videos which cover topics such as renewable energy sources, food production systems and sustainable lifestyles. This initiative comes at a time when public awareness about climate change is increasing rapidly across the globe due to recent extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and hurricanes which have been linked directly or indirectly with human-induced global warming. As more people become aware of these issues it becomes even more important for students everywhere to receive quality education about how we can reduce our impact on our environment through sustainable practices.