Young people and children demand

July 29, 2024 in

 Adolescents and young people demand access to high-quality climate education During Earth Day, UNICEF advocates for countries to provide educational opportunities to all children so they can become environmental champions.

Severe weather-related catastrophes claimed millions of lives or forced migration in 2023 alone. Girls are more likely to drop out of school and face increased risks of child marriage, abuse, and exploitation when they live in climate hotspots, where they are disproportionately affected by climate change. Tragedies linked to climate change cause 40 million children's educations to be disrupted annually, and marginalised youth are being left behind without the skills necessary to cope with the new climate reality. Now is the moment to take action. Together, let's fight for a sustainable, brighter future for all people while also supporting the environment on a daily basis. UNICEF is on governments, corporations, and communities to act quickly to combat the climate crisis and safeguard the children who are already experiencing its most severe consequences on Earth Day. Global advancement in building climate-resilient educational systems Governments all throughout the world are acting to guarantee that kids may receive climate education, that educators are encouraged to teach about sustainability and the environment, and that schooling is not interrupted by climate-related incidents. Nonetheless, a quick assessment of 94 low- and middle-income UNICEF offices reveals uneven success in mainstreaming climate education. Merely 30% of the UNICEF country offices polled indicated that their government is taking steps to promote green education in 2023, and just 18% mentioned climate change education in their Education Sector Plan. Although this suggests some progress in the creation of policies, there are still large gaps in their application. Just 8% of nations claim to be offering at least 70% of pupils climate education and to be giving teachers opportunities for professional development in this area. The fact that 40 out of the studied nations are deemed to be at high or extremely high risk for children to be exposed to and vulnerable to the effects of climate change is concerning, as only one-third of these countries reported taking significant official action to promote green education. Children and young people around the world are demanding access to high-quality climate education. But establishing a policy environment that is supportive to climate education is only the first step. We need to invest a lot of money to make this a reality. It is shocking to see that only 7% of the countries surveyed reported investing in the education sector using climate finance. It just isn't enough. Education is essential for resilience and climate adaption, yet internationally, Projects focused on education get very little support. In order to close the climate finance gap for youth and children and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality climate education, we must move quickly. Young people: Leaders in climate action, not just victims In order to make our planet greener and more sustainable, children and young people are devoting time and effort to taking climate action. These young people and children are daily advocates for our world; let us learn from them. I'm fourteen years old, and my birthplace is Colombia. As a human rights activist and protector of the right to a clean, healthy, and dignified environment, I am based in Spain. I am the leader of a group of kids and teenagers that organise for environmental peace and climate justice. In addition, I give speeches on a variety of topics and support UNICEF Youth Climate Action. When I advocate and teach about climate change, I want governments to create policies that support life and consider how their decisions affect people's hopes, daily lives, and ability to live in a decent environment. I, Tina If you are reading this, you are probably just as interested in the environment as I am! My name is Tina, and I'm from Egypt! A young collective includes me. Beyond merely grabbing people's interest, we had more in mind. We desired a mental shift. With that in mind, we came up with "Us and Climate Change." In order to motivate the future generation, it was intended to provide teachers with the necessary tools to serve as mentors on climate issues, providing them with the lowdown on the issue. Our ultimate aspiration? A pure, unadulterated planet where we can freely enjoy nutritious food, clean water, and clean air.