Rewiring Education: The Climate-Education Nexus

SEEK Development, the team behind the Donor Tracker, is excited to present the "Rewiring Education: The Climate-Education Nexus" Report! Developed together with RewirEd Summit, our analysis underscores how education and climate action can work together to create meaningful change. Built on two years of consultations and discussions at the RewirEd Summit 2023, this report outlines five win-win solutions, supported by case studies that highlight successful, mutually beneficial actions across climate spaces and education, health, and private sectors.

SEEK and the RewirEd Summit also provide nine key recommendations focused on policy, financing, and research, along with a concrete roadmap for action, outlining clear steps for stakeholders to take in advancing critical priorities and scaling impactful solutions at the climate-education nexus.

Overview

This report posits that progress for humanity as expressed in the SDGs will only translate to tangible outcomes for people and the planet, if actors recognize the central importance of the human being, both as an end-goal and a powerful agent of change, with education as a fundamental pillar. Acknowledging the inherent potential in the synergy between climate action and education, this report argues for a strategic approach to the climate-education nexus. It also advocates for an integrated education transformation for people and the planet that spans policy reform, financial innovation, and evidence generation to effectively address interconnected global challenges. Proactive leadership from the education sector is crucial to incorporating climate considerations into education systems. Furthermore, the report calls on actors and institutions within the climate space to view education as a core component of climate action. It encourages effective collaboration between the climate and education sectors to support the broad-based economic transformation required to prepare for the accelerating impacts of climate change.

The climate crisis and the urgency of action:

People at the heart of the planet

The latest IPCC Report highlights the increasing severity of extreme weather events, all linked to man-made climate change. Despite efforts like the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C and reach a collective agreement around decarbonization, the Earth continues to warm, and CO2 emissions keep rising, indicating that current approaches are not enough. This chapter identifies three interrelated factors that lead to the lack of action at scale and makes the case for education as the key to resolving these challenges.

1. Political polatization

Political polarization hampers climate change action globally and within countries, limiting leaders’ abilities to adopt ambitious environmental goals. Internationally, disagreements stem from conflicting values and interests between developed and developing nations. This deadlock, marked by disputes over responsibilities and costs, stalls progress. Education plays a vital role in addressing this challenge by promoting civic education, fostering empathy, and facilitating stakeholder engagement. By cultivating informed citizens who understand the importance of climate action, education can bridge political divides and promote cooperation at all levels.

2. Absent or inadequate climate policies

Weak or absent climate policies fail to provide the necessary support and guidance for economic actors to adopt sustainable practices. The underlying reasons include the low prioritization of some governments and concerns about the effectiveness, uncertain impacts, and high societal costs of these policies. Education can address this issue by encouraging policymakers to explore the impacts, benefits, and costs of various climate policies more deeply. Moreover, education can inspire the development of sustainable technologies and business models, aligning economic opportunities with climate goals.

3. Lack of financial, institutional, technical & workforce capacities

Limited capacity in developing regions hinders climate action, impacting mitigation and adaptation strategies. Challenges include financial constraints, governance issues, limited technical capacity, weak institutions, and a lack of skilled professionals. Education is crucial for overcoming these barriers through targeted vocational training, higher education, and professional development. Knowledge exchange partnerships between educational institutions, governments, NGOs, and the private sector can provide the necessary resources and expertise, enhancing capabilities for effective climate action and promoting financial assistance.

From rhetoric to action:

Win-win solutions at the nexus

To help accelerate the shift towards greater collaboration and progress in the climate-education nexus, this report identifies actionable areas that could catalyze significant progress by placing climate objectives at the heart of education transformation. The report uses a methodology similar to the landmark 2022 “Rewiring Education for People and Planet” report, which emphasizes a holistic, whole-of-society approach to education that addresses complex global challenges and offers a blueprint for future initiatives. The win-win solutions highlight the potential for educational outcomes to enhance climate change efforts through concrete examples and areas ripe for further investment and collaboration.

Win-win solution #1

Early childhood development and climate: a critical nexus for future generations

ECD provides an impactful avenue to build foundational human capital early in life, while addressing climate vulnerabilities. By focusing on holistic educational activities that support early cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, ECD prepares children for primary education and instills essential skills for environmental stewardship. This solution recognizes the heightened vulnerability of young children to climate impacts and leverages ECD as a proactive strategy for climate mitigation, emphasizing the need for increased investment and inclusion of young children’s needs in climate policies.

Win-win solution #2

Planet-friendly school meals: Merging school health, nutrition & food systems for sustainable impact

This solution leverages school health and nutrition programs to build resilience against climate change while promoting sustainable food systems. By integrating nutritious, locally sourced foods into school meals, these programs not only combat malnutrition but also reduce environmental impacts and support local agriculture. Furthermore, comprehensive school health programs, including WASH, as well as disease prevention, enhance students’ ability to learn and thrive in the face of climate challenges. This approach positions schools as critical platforms for delivering integrated health and educational benefits, thereby supporting broader human capital development that is essential for effective climate adaptation and mitigation.

Win-win solution #3

Teaching as a green profession: A new paradigm

Positioning teaching as a green profession transforms educators into pivotal agents of environmental and climate action. This solution focuses on empowering teachers with the knowledge and resources to integrate sustainability into their teaching practices and to encourage environmentally responsible behaviors. By providing professional development on climate change and sustainability, teachers can effectively inspire and educate the next generation about the importance of environmental stewardship, making the education sector a key player in global efforts to combat climate change.

Win-win solution #4

The climate-skills nexus: Preparing youth for a changing planet

Recognizing the significant demographic force that youth represent, particularly in developing countries most affected by climate change, this solution aims to equip them with both technical and transformative green skills necessary for future employment in the green economy and for active participation in climate action. The potential of youth to drive economic and social changes needed to address climate challenges hinges on quality education with strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Creating updated curricula, pedagogy, and assessments within a supportive environment, alongside multisectoral partnerships, can help youth develop and apply green skills effectively. By fostering skilled and knowledgeable youth, this approach enhances the adaptive capacities of communities and drives forward the transition towards sustainable and resilient societies. Alternative education pathways and diverse certification routes can further ensure access to livelihoods and translate skills into economic gains for both youth and society.

Win-win solution #5

Fostering strategic private sector engagement to achieve a green society

The private sector can contribute to the nexus by offering innovative funding solutions, investing in green skills through educational initiatives, and responding to shifting consumer demands for broader economic transition towards green practices. Education can play a crucial role in supporting the private sector’s efforts towards sustainability by cultivating a skilled workforce for green jobs, fostering innovation, and influencing consumer behavior towards eco-friendly products. Aligning education with industry needs enables businesses to access a talent pool ready to drive sustainable initiatives. Furthermore, education transformation that integrates climate concerns can stimulate economic opportunities in line with climate goals and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by consumers, ultimately contributing to a greener society.

The future of people and planet:

A way forward

The win-win solutions represent an important starting point but require a well-established enabling environment to be successful. Rewiring Education for People and Planet: Climate-Education Nexus Report identifies 9 recommendations on policy, financing, as well as research and evidence for stakeholders to adopt.

Policy recommendations

Recommendation #1

COP presidencies should consider championing an Education Day as a permanent fixture higher up on the COP agenda, thereby institutionalizing the intersection of climate and education as a priority for both government and non-government actors.

Recommendation #2

Governments, advocates, as well as NGOs and philanthropies can actively utilize other multilateral platforms such as the G20 as crucial venues for fostering consensus-building from the Global South perspective around action in the climate-education nexus.

Recommendation #3

At the national level, ministers of education can proactively engage cross-sectoral stakeholders - including ministries of environment and other climate-relevant sectors, the private sector, and civil society - by leveraging inter-ministerial committees if present, to closely link education and climate in national education sector plans and policies with implementing mechanisms.

Recommendation #4

Local educational leaders, teachers, and community representatives should take a proactive and unilateral role as champions, implementers and advocates of policies and educational approaches addressing the climate crisis at the school and district levels.

Financing recommendations

Recommendation #1

At the international level, funders from both sectors should consider increasing funding to support coordination, generate evidence and guidelines, and support country-directed needs.

Recommendation #2

At the national level, multiple actors including governments, funders, private sector, and civil society should consider coming together to utilize available funds and align efficiency of spending, shifting to investment in education systems at the forefront of climate action.

Research and evidence recommendations

Recommendation #1

At the international level, actors from the education and climate sectors should consider aligning around common frameworks for defining, guiding, and measuring impact at the intersection of climate and education.

Recommendation #2

Governments and ministers of climate-relevant sectors should consider championing the cause of data-driven decision-making and invest in the development of evidence tailored to local contexts.

Recommendation #3

Researchers and decision-makers should further develop the evidence base on the connection between the climate-education nexus and people such as women and girls, displaced people, and other marginalized groups.

A roadmap for action:

Key global moments

The policy, financing, as well as research and evidence recommendations are critical priorities that players across sectors and geographies can commit to in the mid- to long-term. However, the urgency of action at the nexus requires strong commitment to ensure education transformation for climate action is an international, national, and local priority everywhere.

Bringing these recommendations and the urgent need for action together, the final section of this report outlines concrete steps that actors across sectors can take in the near term to advance critical policy, financing, and research priorities and address the urgent dual challenges of climate change and education system transformation.

The full version of the report can be found here.