UNESCO launches new initiatives for “greening education” in classrooms

Paris  – On World Environment Day, UNESCO unveils new tools for greening schools and curricula, highlighting the need to empower young people to play a concrete role in tackling the climate crisis.

“Greening schools and curricula is one of the best levers to tackle climate disruption in the long-term. It’s time to mainstream environmental education across school subjects, at all levels of education with an action-oriented approach that helps young people understand their power to make a difference,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

A UNESCO analysis of 100 national curriculum frameworks in 2021 revealed that nearly half (47%) do not mention climate disruption. Only 23% of teachers felt able to properly address climate action in their classrooms and 70% of young people surveyed could not explain climate disruption, and expressed concerns about the way in which it is currently taught.

Following this analysis, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, made environmental education a priority in terms of the support which the Organization provides to its Member States. UNESCO has been leading the Greening Education Partnership, that more than 80 Member States have now joined and enables collaboration between more than 1,300 organizations, including UN agencies, civil society and youth organizations, as well as the private sector. This community provides countries with essential tools for strengthening the role of education in tackling climate disruption.

Not enough focus on action-oriented learning

If significant progress has been made over the past three years by UNESCO Member States to integrate environmental topics across curricula, a new report co-published today by the Organization cautions that formal education has focused too much on imparting knowledge about environmental issues, rather than driving action, and is failing to show learners the role they can play in tackling the climate crisis. The report argues that sustainable development education must also focus on first-hand experiences which are more likely to lead to change.

To this end, today UNESCO is promoting two concrete tools for its Member States and educational communities around the world:

UNESCO’s new Greening Curriculum Guidance is a practical manual providing, for the first time, a common understanding of what climate education should consist of and how countries can mainstream environmental topics across curricula, with detailed expected learning outcomes according to age group (from 5-year-olds to 18+). It focuses on the importance of promoting active learning and designing a range of hands-on activities.
UNESCO’s new Green School Quality Standard, developed in partnership with other UN agencies, civil society and countries, sets the minimum requirements on how to create a “green school”by promoting an action-oriented approach. It recommends that all schools set up green governance committees including students, teachers and parents to oversee sustainable management. It also calls to encourage teacher training, conduct audits of energy, water, food and waste audits, while alsocalling for stronger ties with the wider community to help students address environmental issues at local level.