o safeguard our planet, we must connect the dots between education, climate action, and partnerships. SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) are deeply linked. Together, they hold the key to a sustainable future.
Education is the foundation of this transformation. Future generations won't be equipped to protect the environment or tackle the 'energy trilemma' unless we reform education to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and values they need.
Partnerships are essential to making this happen. Governments, businesses, and international organizations must work together to ensure that education prepares young people for the challenges of the future.
We must break down silos and coordinate activity. Governments have committed to ambitious climate and education goals through recent COP agreements, UNESCO’s Transforming Education Summit, and the broader 2030 UN SDG agenda. The opportunity now is to integrate these efforts. Integration and partnership mean we can do things on a bigger scale, and more efficiently.
Cambridge and ICESCO (the intergovernmental organization that brings together 53 Islamic countries) have launched a new framework designed to help governments “green” their education systems. Created by a team including Cambridge academics, this framework offers practical recommendations that can be adapted to governments’ existing plans. It’s built on our understanding from working with nations around the world, for example to develop a new Environmental Sciences subject in Oman that prepares students for the workforce of the future.
A holistic approach also helps increase equity in education. Research shows that providing universal education, especially for girls, is a powerful way to combat climate change. Yet the number of out-of-school children continues to rise, and climate disasters are increasingly disrupting education. UNICEF estimates that nearly 40 million children each year experience interruptions to their schooling due to extreme weather.
If these trends continue, it could lead to a vicious cycle. Without education, young people will not have the skills needed to tackle climate issues and reduce further impacts. Governments and partners must work together to ensure education systems are built to withstand the impacts of climate change, enabling children to continue learning even in times of crisis.
To safeguard the planet, we need connected solutions. By aligning education transformation with climate action through partnerships, we can equip future generations to foster a more sustainable world. Education is not just part of the answer—it is the catalyst for change.
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Transform education to safeguard the planet
Image by Sven Lachmann from Pixabay.
January 23, 2025
By aligning education transformation with climate action through partnerships, we can equip future generations to foster a more sustainable world, writes Jane Mann.
T
o safeguard our planet, we must connect the dots between education, climate action, and partnerships. SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) are deeply linked. Together, they hold the key to a sustainable future.
Education is the foundation of this transformation. Future generations won't be equipped to protect the environment or tackle the 'energy trilemma' unless we reform education to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and values they need.
Partnerships are essential to making this happen. Governments, businesses, and international organizations must work together to ensure that education prepares young people for the challenges of the future.
We must break down silos and coordinate activity. Governments have committed to ambitious climate and education goals through recent COP agreements, UNESCO’s Transforming Education Summit, and the broader 2030 UN SDG agenda. The opportunity now is to integrate these efforts. Integration and partnership mean we can do things on a bigger scale, and more efficiently.
Cambridge and ICESCO (the intergovernmental organization that brings together 53 Islamic countries) have launched a new framework designed to help governments “green” their education systems. Created by a team including Cambridge academics, this framework offers practical recommendations that can be adapted to governments’ existing plans. It’s built on our understanding from working with nations around the world, for example to develop a new Environmental Sciences subject in Oman that prepares students for the workforce of the future.
A holistic approach also helps increase equity in education. Research shows that providing universal education, especially for girls, is a powerful way to combat climate change. Yet the number of out-of-school children continues to rise, and climate disasters are increasingly disrupting education. UNICEF estimates that nearly 40 million children each year experience interruptions to their schooling due to extreme weather.
If these trends continue, it could lead to a vicious cycle. Without education, young people will not have the skills needed to tackle climate issues and reduce further impacts. Governments and partners must work together to ensure education systems are built to withstand the impacts of climate change, enabling children to continue learning even in times of crisis.
To safeguard the planet, we need connected solutions. By aligning education transformation with climate action through partnerships, we can equip future generations to foster a more sustainable world. Education is not just part of the answer—it is the catalyst for change.
