Education is integral in the fight against climate change. Knowledge of climate change plays a vital role in helping young learners understand various environmental issues. For instance, knowledge of global warming and its impact on human life creates awareness among learners and encourages them to change their behaviours.

Without a doubt, an investment in education stands to pay the best dividends. In light of this fact, UNESCO advocates for education, primarily focusing on the younger generations.

Why Environmental Literacy

Multiple initiatives aimed at initiating climate action have been launched in the past. Key among them is the United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) promoted since 2013. Climate action is the 13th SDG and relies heavily on environmental literacy.

Environmental literacy focuses on educating citizens, especially children, on the causes and consequences of climate change. Commitment to advancing climate action is in developing an effective culture for caring for the environment.

Using Education to Develop a Culture for caring for the environment

There has been a significant change of approach in environmental education. For instance, you can find young kids familiar with concepts considered a reserve of the scientists. Besides familiarisation with vocabularies, education also plays a vital role in developing a culture for caring for the environment.

Studies on the effects of education on young adults show that individuals exposed to environmental education show marked improvement in ecological behaviour. However, there is also a need to embrace collaborative efforts between all stakeholders, especially those in authority.

Climate change headlines are constantly on the news. The effects of loss of habitats, rising global temperatures, and poor air quality ignite passion from conservationists from different parts of the world. But, as politicians sit to find ways to circumvent climate change, higher education could play an invaluable role in taking climate action.In the past, climate change conversations were limited to environmental programs and forums. But now, it is evident that everyone should be brought on board as the world rises against climate change. Institutions of higher learning such as colleges and universities are could positively influence actions in many ways.

It is a known fact that intuitions of higher learning are usually the first adopters for most practices with a broad social impact. For example, campuses have been instrumental in creating some of the most effective climate action in most countries. Environmentalists have to come to terms with the fact that climate action can bear results if more institutions commit to this cause.

Beyond the institutions ‘contribution, success is anchored mainly on the stakeholders. Students have become climate change activists. In some cases, students can forge meaningful relationships with other stakeholders.