The world is grappling with twin crises in climate change and education – and each threatens to amplify the other.
The planet is warming at an alarming rate: 2024 marked the first year the average global temperatures surpassed 1.5 degrees, the tipping point that scientists say will cause severe weather, rising sea levels and the destruction of ecosystems. At the same time, educational challenges such as widespread differences in the quality of and access to schools, poor outcomes and a lack of preparedness for the demands of 21st-century work are putting the future of hundreds of millions of children and young people in jeopardy.
While climate change and education are often discussed separately, they are deeply connected.
Richer, more educated societies are better able to withstand the destructive effects of climate change, and they have the means to implement the radical changes needed to reduce emissions. While poorer countries, or simply poorer communities, are hit harder by climate change, and they lack the resources to deal with school closures caused by extreme weather like heatwaves, floods and storms.
Done right, efforts to address the challenges facing education could also advance our climate objectives, by improving resilience and raising awareness among young people about the dangers of climate change, but also the solutions that exist to deal with it. Investing in education is investing in climate resilience.
That’s why the Baku Guiding Principles on Human Development for Climate Resilience are so important. They call for countries to integrate climate change knowledge and green skills into all levels of education.
Natural disasters and education: a vicious cycle
Globally, an estimated 502 million children are in learning poverty, according to UNICEF. School closures during COVID-19 exacerbated an already dire learning crisis, with this generation of students now at risk of losing an estimated US$17 trillion in earnings over the course of their lifetime. Providing universal secondary education to young people from age 15 to 24 could boost the annual gross national income of low- to middle-income countries by 11.5%, or US$8.1 trillion.
Climate change isn’t helping. From January 2022 to June 2024, climate-related disasters caused schools to close in 81 countries, affecting the education of 400 million students. Rising temperatures further hinder learning, particularly in poorer communities, with some students effectively cut off from education for six months. The COVID-19 pandemic already caused significant learning losses, but these disruptions are causing students to fall even further behind. These events also leave lasting scars on students’ mental health and longer-term academic performance.
Conversely, the learning crisis hinders our ability to address climate change. A well-educated population is better equipped to understand the complexities of climate science, develop innovative solutions to deal with extreme weather and advocate for sustainable policies. Education, particularly for girls, is key to building resilience. Educated women are better able to deal with climate shocks, reducing economic losses from extreme weather.
Climate education needs to start in school. Children that learn in energy efficient buildings that are heated or cooled by renewable energy and who participate in recycling or other efforts to reduce waste will grow into adults who adopt green practices in their everyday lives. This can help shape a generation of environmentally conscious adults.
A common interest
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and UNICEF share a common aim of promoting education. EIB invests in schools, universities and training centres that provide learners with the abilities and skills societies will need for the future. We see education as a driver of sustainable development. For its part, UNICEF is committed to quality, inclusive education for every child, as part of its core mandate on child rights. It works across 144 countries, helping governments to strengthen education.
The European Investment Bank and UNICEF have combined their expertise to propose plans for climate resilient schools, which includes upgrading school facilities, integrating climate change into school curriculum and promoting the development of skills that are urgently needed to protect the environment.
In Mozambique, UNICEF is supporting the construction of cyclone-resilient schools and in Côte d'Ivoire, the organisation is helping to create green schools that teach students about the environment and protecting the planet through activities like gardening or tree planting. For its part, the European Investment Bank has financed projects to build and renovate schools across Europe, Tunisia and the Balkans and is currently working on projects in Morocco.
These investments often improve the quality of education infrastructure in socially and economically disadvantaged areas while also improving energy efficiency and buildings’ ability to withstand the effects of climate change.
These types of initiatives demonstrate that we have the tools to develop education systems and services that can withstand the worst effects of climate change. Reinforced and adaptive school infrastructure, disaster preparedness plans and flexible learning models are helping stem learning losses and prevent students from dropping out, including in communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.
Breaking down barriers
To scale up these integrated solutions, governments, NGOs, the private sector and communities need to work together. These solutions face obstacles, such as finance. In 2020, education made up less than 1.3% of climate-related development assistance. A 2022 assessment of Nationally Determined Contributions – each country’s plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate change – found that less than half of plans included funds to address climate change’s impact on education.
To support cash-strapped governments, we need innovative funding mechanisms and partnerships that would enable low- and middle-income countries to invest in the infrastructure and equipment that can resist climate change and keep children connected to education.
The climate and learning crises are not isolated issues. They are two sides of the same problem. And they need to be addressed together.
Banner image © UNICEF/UN0367296/Diarassouba
MODERNISATION ETABLISSEMENTS SCOLAIRES
Projet de réhabilitation, d'aménagement et d'équipement des établissements scolaires en Tunisie.
EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY CITY OF STRASBOURG
Le projet comprend la construction, la reconstruction ou la rénovation des écoles maternelles et primaires et des gymnases sous la responsabilité de la Ville de Strasbourg en France. Il comprend également des opérations transversales telles que la mise en conformité des systèmes de sécurité et la numérisation des écoles.
MADRID EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURES
The project concerns the renovation, extension and new construction of public education facilities in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (CAM), Spain.
SEINE-MARITIME DEVELOPMENT DURABLE
The Project includes the construction, reconstruction, extension and renovation of lower-secondary schools and associated educational and social infrastructure and the renovation of the departmental archives under the responsibility of the Department of Seine-Maritime in France. It also includes a transversal item on the digitalisation of equipment and infrastructure.
CATALUNYA EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Catalunya Education Infrastructure (the -Project-) concerns the renovation, extension and new construction of public education facilities in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya - CAT), Spain.