Dubai Cares' latest report highlights innovative strategies to mitigate climate change through education, focusing on planet-friendly school meals, climate-conscious curriculum, and teacher training in sustainable practices. The report, the result of two years of consultation with education and environmental experts, advocates for the integration of climate education into school systems.
"School meal planning and policy can promote the use of native foods that are locally produced, with shorter supply chains," the report states. "By incorporating food system education and whole food approaches into the curriculum, children, teachers, and future generations are better informed about how the food system operates and can take advantage of opportunities to make it more sustainable."
The report emphasizes the crucial role of teachers in environmental education, citing successful programs like 'Teachers for the Planet' that offer valuable innovations for educators and policymakers. Titled 'The Rewiring Education: The Climate Education Nexus,' the report is a product of extensive discussions at the RewirEd Summit 2023 at COP28 UAE.
"There cannot be tangible accelerated progress on any of the global challenges without a complete rewiring of education systems globally," the report's foreword reads. "The report is a call to action to all stakeholders to sow the seeds of change wherever they may be to leverage the climate-education nexus to the fullest."
Offering five solutions that promote holistic development, the report ensures that each stage of education equips individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to a sustainable world. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, CEO and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, underscores the importance of education in addressing climate change, stating, "Education is key to confronting this crisis head-on."
Additional solutions include investing in Early Childhood Development, recognizing its significant impact on climate change adaptability and resilience. The report also builds on the inaugural 2022 edition, focusing more strongly on the role of education transformation for climate action.
"The achievements at COP28 UAE are historic," the report notes. "However, they remain the first step in the journey for education to claim its rightful position in the climate action agenda. This report offers a roadmap that will require stakeholders to move from rhetoric to action with a sense of urgency."
