The European Education for Climate Day 2024
28 November 2024
Under the special heading ‘Climate Resilience – Preparing for the Future’, educational communities across Europe highlight how education plays a significant role in protecting Mother Nature. The EU has recognised nearly 100 projects by awarding them with special merits. Among them, you will find an eclectic selection of innovative ideas on how educators can help tomorrow’s guardians prepare for a better future. The Erasmus Education for Climate Day sees deserving winners receive their awards during a live ceremony available to stream.
Children and teens are painfully aware of the impact of climate change and eager to do what they can to live more sustainably. Educators at all levels seize this care and enthusiasm by running special education for climate projects and creating green classrooms.
With climate change rarely out of the headlines, the EU continually promotes education as a key player in climate action. In 2021, the block established the Education for Climate Coalition to raise greater awareness, train teachers, forge partnerships between educators and scientists, and promote behavioural changes across society.
The coalition’s vision and mission are to bring about tangible change in local communities. The EU has called on all stakeholders to collaborate including industry, community, education, NGO, and political leaders and representatives.
Since its establishment, the coalition has supported and partnered with thousands of local projects with the first Education for Climate Action Day staged in November 2021.
Education for Climate Action Award Winners 2024
A panel of experts examined all submitted projects with ambition, tangibility, multidisciplinary, and participatory approaches as the determining criteria. The aim was to find the most engaging and impactful initiatives with the greatest community reach.
Let’s single out some of the projects in the following three categories:
Managing the Green and Digital Transition Simultaneously
Shift – An 8-Week Youth Project from Denmark and the Netherlands
Shift challenges young participants to examine their everyday lives and introduce changes, benefitting not only the environment but also their overall well-being.
At the outset, participants record their carbon footprint and set reduction goals. During the 8-week programme, they discuss their habits and impact thereof, while strengthening supportive bonds within the community.
Shift aims to bring about tangible and lasting habit changes among young people and nurture individuals socially.
Developing Green Skills
17 SDG for a Better World. Time to Take Action
Spanish Project 17 SDG (sustainable development goals) reaches far beyond climate action. Ambitious in its scope, the project challenges participants to examine the most pressing societal issues set out and adopted at UN level.
Each goal headed up one week of the programme with students discussing the issues, crafting solutions, and learning from experts.
Harnessing the Power of Science
Climate Smart – an Irish Schools Project
Funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 project, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Climate Smart is a school project that has reached nearly 4’000 pupils in over 100 Irish schools.
Resources, workshops, and board games deliver knowledge, raise awareness, and relate climate issues and action to local communities.
Erasmus Education for Climate Day 2024 – Educate to Spark Positive Change
The EU’s Climate Action Day once again highlighted the power of education and the enthusiasm among young people to participate. Not only did they engage meaningfully but they also implemented changes in their lives while encouraging loved ones to do likewise.
For teachers looking to create green classrooms, the day delivered an abundance of resources and brilliant project ideas.
Erasmus Course Attendants Share Invaluable Research Activity
Deborah Schneider and Sanja Osieja attended our Presentation Skills for Academics Course in November. The two PhD students are working on climate action research and shared some fascinating insights……..