Education and Awareness for Climate Action

On June 29^th and 30^th the third regional conference for Education and Awareness for Climate Action in Europe and Central Asia took place as a virtual event on the zoom platform. The objective of the event was to advance the climate education, awareness and engagement in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region building upon the outcomes of UNDP’s regional climate education initiative Climate Box. This Virtual regional dialogue aims at providing background to and sharing knowledge among countries and stakeholders.

The event was held through three sessions:

• Session I: Regional Dialogue „Climate Education for Climate Action and Sustainable Development“
• Session II: Teachers Dialogue and Workshops
• Session III: Youth Forum for Climate Action

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Various experiences were shared from over ten Climate Box partner countries. Climate Box is UNDP’s regional climate education initiative and an interactive climate learning toolkit for school children and teachers. The Climate Box toolkit includes comprehensive materials and teaching tools on climate change designed for primary and secondary school children.

On the first session Anita Kodzoman – UNDP Programme Officer shared Macedonian experience and engagement regarding youth, education and climate change. A special overview of the online gamification platform was given and also in the end the results and recommendations from the report were presented. Young people who engaged in our consultations shared their experiences, needs and visions for climate action in the Republic of North Macedonia and most of the principles and values that were shared included subsidiarity, long-term thinking, inclusiveness, trust, transparency, practical and holistic approach. You can read more about this whole process on the following blog post: walking the talk: youth engagement in climate action ready for the next step and you can also read more about my experience with youth and climate change In North Macedonia on the following blog.

During the second session a special highlight was given to the teachers and their experience with the climate box toolkit. Three thematic workshops were held: mainstreaming climate in school curriculum, Implementing teacher’s training programme as part of national refresher courses, and Informal education and off-curricula activities.

On the last session presentations were given on the UNDP climate promise for young people, youth dialogues and green education.  Various experiences in the form of presentations of climate projects from Climate Box partner schools were shared from school students over ten Climate Box partner countries. We also had the opportunity as a youth target group to share our experience with other countries during the thematic workshops and also get an insight from other countries that are already climate box partner countries.

The general conclusion I had from this event is that Youth’s valuable experience and innovative ideas and solutions are still a largely untapped potential for transformative climate action. However, their knowledge, energy and passion have helped create a global movement demanding bold climate action from their leaders, while also driving actions in their countries and communities.