During the 24th Conferences of the Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Katowice, Poland from 2 to 14 December 2018, UN CC:Learn supported a multiplicity of side events, highlighting the importance of education and training to build the knowledge and skills needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change in different sectors. In particular UN CC:Learn contributed to the One UN side events dedicated to Gender and Climate Change, Climate-Compatible Cities, Food Waste, organized in collaboration by other UN agencies.
Panelists discussing the benefits of taking a gender-responsive perspective in climate action during the One UN Side Event on Gender Mainstreaming in Adaptation and Mitigation: A Nexus Approach.
Furthermore, a set of UN CC:Learn-supported activities were showcased during Education Day, held on 13 December. At a dedicated High-level Event, ministers and policy-makers in the area of environment and education, as well as representatives of the civil society and academia, discussed the pivotal role that education can play to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of the exchange, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia presented some of its main activities in the area of climate change learning, including the development and implementation of its National Climate Change Education Strategy.
Participants of the High Level Event on Stepping Up Climate Education. Photo courtesy of UNESCO.
During the One UN Side Event on Quality Education, moderated by the Head of the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, stakeholders from different institutions, including UN agencies, academia, civil society organizations and the private sector, highlighted best practices to advance education on different climate change topics that is tailored to local contexts and targeted at specific audiences. A new UN CC:Learn-supported initiative aimed at designing new learning materials for school teachers and pupils building on the Youth Climate Dialogues and UN CC:Learn e-learning resources was introduced.
UN CC:Learn also facilitated the participation of Project Luangwa, an charity that supports schools located in communities very reliant on natural resources in rural Zambia. In particular, Project Luangwa focuses on children with disabilities and on girls’ and boy’s clubs, advancing gender equality and building a stronger social cohesion, as a way to enhance climate resilience.
One UN Exhibit and Climate Classroom on Education
At COP24, UN CC:Learn also contributed to the One UN Exhibit on Quality Education and organized a third edition of the Climate Classroom, which provides quick learning for busy COP delegates. For further information on UN CC:Learn participation at COP24, please click here.