Climate change is emerging as a significant threat to educational progress worldwide, with the potential to undo gains made over the past decade. A recent report by UNESCO highlights how climate-related stressors like extreme heat, wildfires, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels are negatively impacting education outcomes and threatening to reverse hard-won improvements in global learning. 

The Scale of the Problem 

The UNESCO report paints a stark picture of the challenges facing education systems globally due to climate change: 

• Nearly 40 million children face disruptions to their education annually due to climate-related disasters.
• Over the past six years, 43 million children have been internally displaced by extreme weather events - equating to about 20,000 child displacements every day.
• By 2050, an estimated 2.02 billion children worldwide will be exposed to frequent and extreme heatwaves, up from 559 million currently. 

These disruptions lead to school closures, learning losses, increased dropout rates, and long-term impacts on educational attainment. Even in cases where schools remain open, rising temperatures can inhibit learning and cognitive performance. 

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities 

The effects of climate change on education are not felt equally across the globe. Low and middle-income countries, as well as marginalised populations within countries, tend to be hit hardest. Of the 33 countries identified as bearing extremely high climate risks for children, 29 are considered fragile states. 

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable nations face particular challenges due to their geographical location and limited resources. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and coastal erosion pose existential threats to school infrastructure in these regions. 

The 2022 monsoon floods in Pakistan, for example, disrupted education access for over 3.5 million children. Six months after the disaster, an estimated one million children were still out of school. Similarly, Cyclone Idai in 2019 affected the education of over 305,000 children in Mozambique. 

The Learning Impact of Rising Temperatures 

Even when schools remain open, rising temperatures can have a significant negative impact on learning outcomes. Research has shown that: 

• In the United States, a school year that is 1°C hotter reduced test scores by 1% in the absence of air conditioning.
• Students in the hottest 10% of Brazilian municipalities lost about 1% of learning per year due to increasing heat exposure.
• Exposure to higher than average temperatures during prenatal and early life periods is associated with fewer years of schooling, especially in Southeast Asia. 

These seemingly small impacts can accumulate over time, leading to significant learning losses that translate into lower future earnings, reduced productivity, and potentially greater social inequality. 

Adapting Education Systems for Climate Resilience 

Despite the severity of the threat, education remains overlooked in many climate policy agendas. In 2020, education made up less than 1.3% of climate-related official development assistance, and was mentioned in fewer than one in three Nationally Determined Contribution plans. 

However, there are concrete steps that governments and education stakeholders can take to protect learning from climate change: 

1. Develop Comprehensive Climate Education Strategies: Governments should create detailed strategies that outline how climate change education will be integrated into the national curriculum. This includes setting clear objectives, timelines, and responsibilities for various stakeholders. For example, the UK's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy aims to make the education sector world-leading in sustainability by 2030, with annual progress updates to ensure accountability. 

2. Cross-Curricular Integration: Climate change education should not be confined to science classes alone. Instead, it should be integrated across multiple subjects such as geography, citizenship, and even literature and history. This interdisciplinary approach helps students understand the multifaceted nature of climate change and its impacts on society, economy, and the environment. For instance, teachers in England have advocated for a cross-curricular approach that involves at least six subjects. 

3. Teacher Training and Professional Development: Effective climate change education requires well-trained teachers who are confident in delivering the subject matter. Governments should invest in professional development programs that provide teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills. This includes workshops, online courses, and resource packs tailored to local contexts. The UNFCCC highlights the importance of teacher training initiatives to support climate change education at all levels of schooling. 

4. Hands-On and Experiential Learning: Incorporating practical, hands-on activities can make climate change education more engaging and impactful. Governments can promote initiatives like school gardens, energy monitoring projects, and local biodiversity studies. The UK's National Education Nature Park, which offers resources and activities to improve biodiversity and tackle climate change, is a prime example of this approach. 

5. Develop and Distribute Educational Resources: Creating and distributing high-quality educational materials is crucial for effective climate change education. These resources should be locally relevant and include practical activities that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. The Taking Climate Change to Schools project in Uganda, which developed a resource pack with locally contextualized examples, serves as a model for this approach. 

6. Foster Student Engagement and Empowerment: Students should be encouraged to take an active role in climate action. This can be achieved through climate clubs, competitions, and debates that cultivate interest in climate innovations. Empowering students to be agents of change fosters a sense of responsibility and hope. The UK's Climate Ambassador Scheme, which provides support and guidance to educators and students, is an example of fostering student engagement. 

7. Collaborate with Local and International Partners: Governments should collaborate with local communities, NGOs, and international organisations to enhance climate change education. Partnerships can provide additional resources, expertise, and opportunities for students to engage in real-world climate action. The UK's collaboration with UNESCO and other global partners to develop a climate and education declaration is an example of effective international cooperation. 

8. Incorporate Climate Change into National Assessments: To ensure that climate change education is taken seriously, it should be included in national assessments and examinations. This not only reinforces its importance but also ensures that students are gaining the necessary knowledge and skills. Governments can work with curriculum development centres to integrate climate-related questions into existing exams. 

9. Promote Political Impartiality and Scientific Accuracy: Climate change education should be based on scientific facts and evidence, avoiding misinformation and unsubstantiated claims. While there may be political debates on how best to address climate change, the education provided should be grounded in scientific consensus. The UK's approach to teaching climate change, which emphasises political impartiality and scientific accuracy, sets a good precedent. 

10. Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Finally, governments should establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of climate change education initiatives. This includes collecting data on student learning outcomes, teacher preparedness, and the implementation of climate education strategies. Regular evaluations can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the goals of climate education are being met. 

The Role of Technology and Innovation 

Innovative approaches and technologies can play a crucial role in building climate-resilient education systems:

• Digital learning platforms can ensure continuity of education during climate-related school closures.
• Climate-smart school designs can incorporate features like solar-reflective roofing, improved ventilation, and water-efficient systems.
• Early warning systems and weather monitoring technologies can help schools prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.
• Climate change education tools and resources can be developed and shared globally to enhance teaching and learning about sustainability. 

The Way Forward 

 Protecting education from the impacts of climate change is not just about preserving learning; it's about safeguarding the future of entire generations. Education is a powerful tool for building societal resilience, driving economic development, and nurturing informed and innovative citizens who can tackle the challenges of a changing world. 

As we face the growing threat of climate change, it is crucial that policymakers, educators, and communities work together to adapt education systems and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive, regardless of the environmental challenges they face. 

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Disclaimer: This article was researched and written based on information from various sources, including UNESCO, the World Bank, and academic studies on climate change and education. We extend our gratitude to these organisations and researchers for their valuable work in highlighting and addressing this critical issue.