Education International is the voice and force of education and part of the international trade union movement. Education International represents over 33 million teachers and education support personnel through over 375 education unions.
Whilst negotiators and activists from around the world continue to gather in Baku, Azerbaijan for the United Nations conference on climate change, COP 29, intensifying climate change demands urgent global action. Tackling and adapting to climate change is a priority for education unions, illustrated by the adoption of two resolutions on the topic by Education International’s recent World Congress (see here and here).
Despite being least responsible for causing climate change, developing countries, island nations, marginalised communities, and young people are most vulnerable to the devastation of climate impacts. The lives of students and educators are already being negatively impacted across diverse contexts. Extreme weather is causing widespread school disruptions and deteriorating teaching and learning conditions, placing at risk both the right to education and teachers’ labour rights.
Governments must implement meaningful climate change interventions to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius and provide meaningful and substantial climate finance to support countries and communities. Social protection must be available to support workers affected by climate impacts.
In line with the demands of the broader trade union movement, Education International calls for COP 29 to prioritise the full implementation of the just transition work programme, include just transition in a new quantified global goal on climate finance, and guarantee human rights and inclusive participation, with trade unions as key partners in determining climate policies through social dialogue.
Furthermore, Education International calls on policy makers at COP to consider education in climate strategies. This means both ensuring that education systems are climate resilient and enabling educational continuity in the face of climate impacts, but also that education is recognised as a powerful tool to catalyse climate action. As outlined in Education International’s Manifesto on quality climate change education for all, education systems must introduce high-quality, well-funded education programmes, equipment, facilities, and professional learning for climate education. All countries should endorse the common education and climate agenda, committing to concrete actions on adaption, mitigation, and investment to ensure resilient and green education systems.
Looking ahead to COP 30, we urge all countries to prepare nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that include more ambitious commitments to end the use of fossil fuels, commitments on just transition policies, and commitments to green education. Education International’s analysis of countries’ current NDCs found that commitments on quality climate education were almost entirely absent from these national climate policies. Countries should work with education unions to develop revised NDCs that include plans that align with the roadmap for quality climate change education outlined in the Education International Manifesto.