Focusing education on climate should be a priority. It’s important to make the younger generation aware of this phenomenon, which is too often ignored. To achieve this, funding is needed. A few ideas are emerging, but too few in number. Investing in education is investing in the future!
WHAT IS CLIMATE EDUCATION?
Addressing climate change and more specifically its impact on the planet and all living beings requires immediate action. The world is grappling with record-breaking temperatures, ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and persistent inflationary pressures.
In this context, advocating for climate education has become critical. It empowers individuals and communities with the necessary knowledge, skills and motivation to combat climate change and foster resilience during challenging times.
Education, which is necessary for both climate change mitigation and adaptation, stands as an underestimated yet critical pillar of climate action. Consider this: children born in 2020 will face up to seven times more extreme weather events than their grandparents throughout their lifetime¹. Young generations are the most impacted and ill-equipped in terms of climate education.
Indeed, 70% of young people cannot explain climate change, can only explain broad principles or do not know anything about it². Addressing this knowledge gap requires more investment. Unfortunately, government aid towards education has been on a downward trend, decreasing from 14.7% in 2003 to 9.7% in 2021³. This decline underscores the need for alternative funding sources to ensure comprehensive climate education.
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