Representing 32.5 million educators worldwide, Education International is leading in the movement for climate education. On 21 April 2021, Education International will launch a multilevel campaign to ensure that climate education, based on science with a civic action focus, becomes as fundamental as teaching reading and writing.
Educators have a crucial role to play when it comes to climate action. What we teach matters. The survival of our students matters. We must inspire students and communities to action.
“The fight against climate change must have an education face and a teacher’s voice in every area of the world. The planet is in crisis and I strongly believe that teachers and educators have a critical role to play in combating the environmental destruction, human suffering and social injustice that will certainly occur if climate change continues at current rates,” stated Susan Hopgood, Education International President.
The Global Education Summit
Education International will launch the campaign with the Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit. Taking place on 21 April from 1 to 4 pm CEST, the multilingual virtual event will feature prominent activists from every continent focused on the crucial role that educators and their unions play in combating climate change and why we need transformative climate education now. The event will also introduce Education International’s Manifesto on Quality Climate Change Education for All.
Find out more about the event and register at www.teach4theplanet.org.
Three days of climate action
The Global Education Summit is part of a series of events marking Earth Week. In collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG, the events will bring together the voices of teachers, students, activists and climate justice advocates from around the world. While the Global Education Summit will tackle the topic of climate literacy, two other events taking place on 20 and 21 April will focus on environmental justice and a broad range of youth-led climate-focused issues.
Mobilising for COP 26
Education International’s transformative climate education campaign will continue throughout the year. The campaign will culminate at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in November 2021. Education International will call on world leaders to make ambitious commitments to reduce carbon emissions, prioritise social justice and a just transition in their climate change responses, and provide climate change education for all.
“Teachers know that the most important long-term investment our societies can make towards a sustainable future is ensuring every student is literate about climate science and equipped with the civic knowledge and skills to change course,” explained David Edwards, Education International General Secretary.
“All world leaders must commit to creating the necessary educational space and resources so that students learn the world’s most important lesson. In launching this campaign, the world’s educators are determined to realise our students’ rights to know, do and… exist,” Edwards added.