Education for Climate Days: Building Green Skills for a Sustainable Future
03/12/2024
On 28 November 2024, the European Commission hosted the Education for Climate Days, a flagship event focused on integrating sustainability into education and fostering lifelong learning. Alongside vibrant discussions, the event saw the official launch of the 2024 Education and Training Monitor, offering insights into educational trends across Europe.
Bringing together policymakers, educators, and experts, this initiative tackled the pressing challenge of equipping individuals with the green skills essential for a climate-resilient future.
Exploring green literacy and empowering action
The event explored the critical need for education systems to adapt in response to climate and labour challenges. Opening the discussions, Suzanne Colzane, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, highlighted the decline in basic learning skills across the EU. She stressed the importance of equipping learners with green competencies and revising curricula to address emerging priorities, calling for innovative ways to inspire meaningful climate action.
Speakers throughout the session reinforced the role of education in shaping sustainable behaviours. Daniela Tilbury, from the University of Cambridge, outlined the challenges in identifying what is essential to teach in sustainability. Drawing attention to the gap between values and actions, she underscored the need for educators to be supported in fostering sustainability-oriented daily habits among students.
Elke Vanwildermeersch, Policy Advisor for the Flemish Government, emphasised the importance of collaboration and reflection in sustainability education. She advocated for embedding sustainability meaningfully into curricula while ensuring teachers retain the autonomy to design impactful lessons.
Matthew Pye, Philosophy Coordinator at the European School Brussels, focused on the role of knowledge in climate literacy. He stressed that without a deep understanding of climate issues, actions risk being superficial, lacking the conviction needed to meet critical targets.
In a similar vein, Vasiliki Katsikerou, PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit, highlighted the absence of Green COP principles in education systems. She called for these frameworks to be integrated at all levels and for sustainability actions to be normalised within schools and communities.
Encouraging collaboration in the community agora
A dedicated Community Agora session provided an interactive platform for participants to collaborate and brainstorm solutions for climate education. Stakeholders, including representatives from the Directorate-General for Climate Action and the Volens Association Romania, shared examples of community-driven initiatives designed to inspire sustainable practices.
During the conversation, the session demonstrated the power of cross-sectoral partnerships in driving innovative climate education strategies.
Post-COP29: Linking climate agreements to education
The event also reflected on the outcomes of COP29, with a session featuring scientists, policymakers, and educators. Discussions centred on how recent climate agreements could guide future education strategies. Speakers, including UNESCO Programme Specialist Simon Wanda, underscored the need for resilient education systems aligned with global climate goals.
Rossella Cravetto, Policy Officer from the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, highlighted the importance of leveraging research and collaboration to build effective policies. Giacomo Grassi, Scientist at the Joint Research Centre, further emphasised the need for robust data to support evidence-based decision-making in education.
A shared commitment to action
The Education for Climate Days brought together diverse voices united by a common goal: empowering students, educators, and communities to act on climate challenges. Through a mix of knowledge-sharing and dialogue, the event reinforced the importance of green literacy, collaboration, and innovation in education.
As the European Commission continues its efforts to create a sustainable future, this event underscored the transformative role education can play in building a climate-conscious and resilient society.
