Climate Change Education as an Adaptation Lever
By Adeline Aroskay, Science Officer and Djian Sadadou, Head of Communities and Communication at the Office for Climate Education
At the dawn of the 21st century, climate change confronts us with unprecedented challenges while offering a unique opportunity to rethink our future. The IPCC defines adaptation to climate change as "the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities." Given this reality, education emerges as an essential tool, not only for understanding these issues but also for acting effectively and appropriately.
Education has a transformative potential that remains largely untapped in our collective response to climate change. To fully exploit this potential, educational institutions must play a decisive role in climate adaptation and resilience building. This involves developing programs that equip teachers and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and respond to climate hazards.
The IPCC views adaptation as a process of social learning, and we must and can align with this vision. School systems must cultivate not only fundamental scientific knowledge but also robust social capital. Indeed, education on adapting to climate change should be a process oriented towards solutions and action, enabling students to acquire new skills and knowledge, for example in terms of critical thinking or cooperation. It should also promote peer learning, innovative ideas, community awareness, and the implementation of practical solutions.
As recent studies by Bharati and Pandey highlight, one of the major obstacles remains the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Since climate change is a complex, invisible, and global phenomenon, it is essential that its teaching be integrated into all school levels and also grounded in local realities. This reduces psychological distance and helps transform knowledge into concrete actions, thus strengthening local community resilience.
Education is also a key vector of climate justice. It helps reduce socio-economic disparities by providing everyone access to the skills and knowledge needed to meet climate challenges. Adapting education to local conditions and actively engaging communities enriches the understanding and management of local environmental issues. Children and youth in schools have proven their ability to act as ambassadors for climate change adaptation. By integrating education at the community level, not only students but also parents, local businesses, and even political leaders are engaged, enriching the collective understanding of local environmental issues. Young students have enormous potential to convey to the community the knowledge and skills acquired in class and on campus, proving that education can and must be a driver of reducing climate vulnerabilities.
At the Office for Climate Education, we are convinced that education is an investment to include in a national strategy for just and equitable adaptation to climate change. It is by developing strategic and systemic educational initiatives that we can prepare our current and future generations to face the complexities and challenges of climate change.
With this goal in mind, we developed the first regional climate change education project in Latin America, ALEC, five years ago. After training over 500,000 students and implementing hundreds of projects by classes, we witness daily in vulnerable countries like Mexico or Colombia the power of education to help communities adapt to climate change.
Isn't it time to recognize and invest in education as the foundation of our adaptation strategies?