Schools in UAE Provide Children with Access to Climate Education and Climate Action
UNCEF and UAE Ministry of Education train more than 1800 school principals and teachers across the UAE on climate education
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In schools, young learners need to be equipped with vital skills to navigate the significant challenges they will face in life, including the pressing issue of the climate crisis. Today only half of the curricula worldwide have a reference to climate change according to UNESCO which highlights a significant gap in education.
Recognizing the urgency of integrating climate change awareness and sustainable practices into educational curricula, the Greening Education Partnership by the Ministry of Education in the UAE in collaboration with UNICEF launched a remarkable initiative to transform every school into a hub for climate education and sustainability. By providing comprehensive training and open-source educational resources on climate education, teachers are empowered to effectively impart this knowledge to young learners.
In anticipation of COP28, a significant milestone was achieved with more than 1800 school principals and teachers across the UAE receiving specialized training in climate education. The approach is open to “adopt & adapt” for other countries, contributing to systematic climate change adaptation of education systems and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We continue to work until every school has a principal and at least two teachers that are trained in sustainable education.”
The following video gives an insight into the teacher training in collaboration with UNICEF in UAE:
At the invitation of UNICEF and UAE MoE, representatives of ministries, teacher representatives, young people and partners came together at COP28 to talk about how to get every teacher climate ready.
Robert Jenkins, UNICEF Global Director of Education, spoke with Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, Minister of Education/ Malawi, Dr. Matt Reed, CEO Aga Khan Foundation, Dr. Heike Kuhn, BMZ Head of Education/Germany, Virginie Delisee-Pizzo, AFD Head of Education/ France, and Francisco Figueiredo de Souza, Special Advisor for International Affairs of the Minister of Education/ Brazil on the various initiatives and programmes to support teaching staff in their countries – from WhatsApp-Chatgroups to teaching toolkits to simulate climate debates with students.
Sultan Majed Al Badi, young climate champion in the Net Zero Hero programme, held an impressive speech on the perspective of young people, highlighting the importance of teachers as role models for their students in climate action.
“It is only through education that students can develop climate solutions.”
The event took place in the Greening Education Hub launched by the UAE MoE as the first Education Pavilion in the history of COP, highlighting the importance of education in climate adaptation.
