2023.12.2 Sat.

10:30 - 11:45

Next Generation Climate Education & Youth Stakeholdership Envisioned by Youth Leaders from UN, G7, and National Youth Delegates

Organizer

SWiTCH Association of Sustainability

Co-organizer

Youth Environmental NGO Climate Youth Japan

Seminar abstract

Abstract

Japan stands 5th in global GHG emissions and, for 3 years running, has received the ignominious 'Fossil of the Day Award' from CAN. It's high time we acknowledged that Japan possesses immense potential to be a force for positive change in the fight against the climate emergency especially in the education field as it pioneered in ESD (Education for Sustainable Development). Regrettably, much of Japan's environmental actions have gone unnoticed globally, leaving its powerful potential untapped. At COP28, Japanese youth will lead in discussing with global youth leaders how we can unite young leaders from all corners of the world for climate education to champion decarbonization.

Program

Opening Remarks -5 min-

Introduction of speakers -2 min-

What are the expectations for change in “climate education” from the eyes of youth leaders -22 min-

Equal youth stakeholdership expectations from youth -39 min-

Closing remarks from all speakers -5 min-

Speakers

In-person

• Nisreen Elsaim / UN Secretory General Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change Former Chair
• Jevanic Henry / UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change Member
• Aurora Audino / 2022 G7 Youth Italy Head Delegate and Youth4Climate Champion
• Axel Eriksson / UNFCCC and The National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations UN Youth Delegate for Sweden Member
• Akari Horioka / Climate Youth Japan COP28 Japanese Youth Representative
• Mana Saza / SWiTCH Association of Sustainability Director

Online

• TBD / UNEP
• TBD / Stockholm Resilience Center

Related Links

• SWITCH COP28 Report Page

Session Summary

Since the Paris Agreement's establishment in 2015, Article 12 - Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) has prioritized climate education. Despite its central role, 100 countries revealed that half lacked any mention of climate change in their national curriculum. A survey found that while 95% of teachers recognize the importance of teaching climate change, less than 30% feel ready to address it. Additionally, only 3% of available resources cater to non-English speakers, emphasizing the scarcity of global materials.
To address this gap, youth leaders proposed creating universally accessible toolkits in multiple languages and catered for disabled, ensuring inclusivity. There's a consensus on integrating climate education across all disciplines not only in the sciences, linking climate issues to daily life and careers. A strong suggestion was suggested to introduce climate education from elementary school to empower children as local environmental catalysts and in the future co-design curriculums.
Leaders note the oversight of informal action-based education and stress the need to disseminate knowledge and provide capacity training to adapt to the climate crisis. It is emphasized that the same awareness of the Earth's current state and the shift toward sustainability to children must be shared across generations, especially among decision-makers who will determine how the youth will live their future.
With youth equipped with knowledge and a sense of action, the focus shifts to establishing a structured framework for inclusive youth participation in decision making in schools and government such as forming a youth council. Best practices from youth councils are already existent but need to alter to create continuity in action. The leaders agreed the ultimate goal of the climate education and youth council establishment is to prepare the next generation for the challenges that may unfold while fostering intergenerational collaboration to fasten the the achievement of the Paris Agreement as Earth citizens.

Message and Results

Following the seminar, our organization commits to the below to reflect our dedication to impactful youth engagement in climate education, community involvement, and socio-economic progress aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Co-design a global climate education curriculum with youth, ensuring universal accessibility and integration into existing curricula.
We will establish systems in schools and government to empower children and youth as catalysts for climate change, employing creative methods to expedite Paris Agreement goals.
Implement a monitoring scheme to assess the socio-economic benefits of youth participation, substantiating their role in accelerating the sustainable transition.