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for 2030—Education for Sustainable Development—program is to "build a more just
and sustainable world" by strengthening sustainable development education and
contributing to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its objective is
to integrate the capacity-building of educators, empowerment of young people and
local-level action into the framework, fostering critical competencies in learners,
including knowledge, social and emotional awareness, critical thinking and collaborative
skills.
Despite these efforts, recent data from UNESCO reveals a stark reality: Among 100
member state countries reviewed, only 53% reference climate change in their national
curriculums, and the topic is only addressed to a limited extent. It points to the urgent
need for comprehensive reforms and greater global cooperation to prioritize climate
education and ensure its integration into various academic disciplines.
Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have taken proactive measures
to integrate climate education into their education systems. For example, the UAE
government promotes student environmental awareness through the UAE Green
Education Partnership Roadmap and Sustainable Schools Initiative (SSI). Global
seminars, conferences and workshops emphasize the importance of integrating climate
action into education and explore practical implementations of sustainable practices in
educational institutions. One example is COP28—an event that provides a unique
opportunity to advance climate awareness through conferences such as the Student
Energy Summit (SES), Cop Connect and the UNESCO-UNFCCC webinar series.
A study titled "The Role of Climate Change Education on Individual Lifetime Carbon
Emissions" and published in the National Library of Medicine highlights the potential
impact of climate change education. It shows that an effective climate education
program can significantly reduce carbon emissions. The study suggests that
implementing climate education over 30 years (2020–2050) could reduce emissions by
18.8 gigatons of CO2, ranking in the top quarter (15 out of 80) of solutions presented
in Project Drawdown—the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. The impact of
climate education on the global reduction of carbon dioxide cannot be underestimated.
Integrating digital technologies into education is an effective tool in the fight against
climate change. Digital platforms are crucial in minimizing the carbon footprint
associated with traditional education methods by reducing reliance on paper-based
materials, enhancing remote learning and enabling knowledge sharing. In addition, it is
critical to educate K-12 students about water conservation, energy consumption and
cultivating a culture of sustainability. To further enhance the impact of climate
education in the classroom, supporting and training educators in the effective use of
digital resources is essential. Providing access to interactive educational tools and
resources such as the metaverse and web-based activities for classroom use will enable
better involvement and participation and spark meaningful dialogue.
The symbiotic relationship between climate education and EdTech has opened up new
avenues for student engagement and environmental protection. EdTech platforms
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2024/01/12/empowering-the-next-generation-of-eco-
leaders-with-k-12-edtech/?sh=627546234d7e