Asia Pacific educators signaled their commitment to climate justice in two workshops and by passing a climate justice resolution at the 9th Education International Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia on November 17-19, 2022. Education unionists also gathered to discuss climate change issues affecting the education sector: climate education and just transition.

More than 30 unionists representing all five sub-regions of EIAP attended the workshop ‘Organizing for Climate Education.’ Building on the success of its 2021 climate education conference, educators were presented with the crucial climate policy issues that will affect the Asia Pacific, home to some of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In particular, ‘loss and damage’ —irreversible and costly impacts arising from unabated climate change such as extreme weather, water salinization and sea level rise —became the focal point of discussions as these climate disasters will exacerbate the longstanding grievances of the education sector. Liam Rutherford, president of NZEI Te Riu Roa and an event panel member, also spoke about his union’s experience in integrating climate change into their work and how this has become a new avenue of engagement among members. “It’s not necessarily about the money that a union has. It’s about empowering local communities to feel confident in taking action,” he said.

The second event, a breakout session on just transition, gathered some 20 unionists mostly from the Pacific sub-region. Educators narrated their respective union’s journey towards integrating climate change into the fight for labor rights. Neselinda Meta of the Vanuatu Teacher’s Union spoke about how climate change is threatening the very existence of schools in small island states. In the end, Asia Pacific educators were united in recognizing the need for a just transition in the sector.

AP educators also passed a resolution on the climate crisis, which urged Education International to develop policy demands regarding climate change, build the capacities of national unions in promoting a just transition and climate education, and promote coalition building with global union federations and regional UN institutions, among others.