The latest spate of extreme weather disasters around the world are reminders of the rapid progression of climate change. From wildfires in Turkey, record breaking heatwaves in North America, unprecedented flooding in Western Europe and China, not to mention the countless unreported cyclones and droughts in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, it is clear that climate breakdown is already our reality. Moreover, a landmark report by the United Nations’ leading climate scientists warned that the rise in global temperatures will likely pass 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030 unless massive cuts to carbon emissions are made.

Education’s contribution to addressing climate change has never been more imperative. As the world’s economies begin to decarbonise, a comprehensive retraining of the workforce as well as mindset shifting will be necessary. The International Labour Organisation estimates that at least 24 million jobs globally will be created by 2030 in the wake of the transition to a low-carbon economy. This means that the students of today must be taught the technical skills needed in the fields of construction, energy, food production and transportation.

It is not only in the green economy that education will play a pivotal role. A profound shift in the ways that societies consume, work, and live is also needed if we are to transition into a sustainable era of living. To this end, we need an informed citizenry that will put pressure on governments to take bold climate action; a citizenry that is cognisant of the urgency of decisive leadership in curbing the causes of climate change.

More importantly, we need citizens who will recognise that climate change is a global, shared problem that disproportionately affects those who have done the least to cause it. We need more citizens who will understand that climate change is a risk multiplier for vulnerable populations already at the frontlines, in both wealthy and impoverished countries. According to the UN, for example, women are often Burdened by the responsibility to secure their households and livelihoods during disasters such as droughts and floods. In Africa, for instance, where illiteracy rates are higher for women than men, extreme weather events leave little opportunity for women to engage in trainings and education that could aid in their socio-economic mobility. Thus, the cycle of oppression becomes more deeply entrenched for marginalised groups in the face of the intensified impacts of climate change.

As educators, you have the ability both to prepare students for an uncertain future, and to instil an educated kind of hope in your communities. The prospects of an environmentally degraded future can paralyse people, especially the young. But, as the world’s notable climate scientists have remarked, we can still avoid the worst consequences of climate change if we start making critical changes today. This is where teachers can make a difference: by educating students and their communities about the pathways to a more livable and equitable future.

We need to build a global citizenry with a sharp moral compass who will demand that climate justice stands at the centre of policies designed to tackle climate change. This is where education unionists are encouraged to engage on a deeper level. We invite you to take part in EI’s #Teach4thePlanet campaign, a globally coordinated movement to demand that quality climate education is included in the climate pledges of every nation.

To support you, we have created this toolkit as an introduction into the processes of global climate policymaking. It starts with a brief explainer of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the most important multilateral processes dealing with climate change. We also delve into the Nationally Determined Contributions, which is the core policy document that unions can engage on the national level. Lastly, we provide suggestions on how to build solidarity for climate education. Through this toolkit, we hope that you will learn useful tips on how to push for the inclusion of climate education in your respective country’s climate action plans. We hope that this will inspire you to take your advocacy to the national and global stage.