„In addressing climate change, the action of individual students can mobilize the whole community“ Climate change is a truly global challenge. It will impact all ecosystems and human societies. Addressing climate change requires involvement and action at local, regional and global level. We met Mr Dieufort Deslorges, national coordinator of the UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) in Haiti, during the International Seminar on Climate Change Education at UNESCO, Paris, 27-29 July 2009. He explains how ASPnet students in Haiti have taken action. How is your own country affected by climate change? Mr Delorges: Haiti is touched at two levels. First, tropical cyclones are getting more and more frequent. While cyclones normally hit Haiti every two years, last year we experienced four serious cyclones within two weeks. At the same time, deforestation is advancing at a rapid pace: People use more wood, and there is no reforestation. As a consequence, one of the biggest cities in Haiti was completely flooded twice within four years, and inhabitants from two other cities had to be even relocated. Can education mitigate or at least decrease the effects of climate change? Mr Delorges: Yes, it definitely can! Since 2007, the Haitian National Commission for UNESCO works very closely on this issue. The UNESCO Associated Schools network plays a central role in pilot testing pedagogical material related to education for sustainable development, including climate change education. In addition, we encourage extracurricular activities on climate change education. One of our main tasks is to sensitize all actors involved in education to climate change: school principals, students, teachers and the communities themselves. Which activity of the UNESCO Associated Schools could be considered a good practice? Mr Delorges: Our most visible activity is our National Youth Rally. It all started with a student committee that wanted to organise a common activity among all ASPnet students and teachers of the country. In 2007, students set off for the first rally. In 2009, ASPnet and non-ASPnet students as well as teachers from the whole country reiterated the idea. They visited two cities devastated by floods. The pine forest that surrounded them had been seriously deforested by human activity. The participants started planting trees, and not only involved teachers and parents, but the local communities. What is the way forward? Mr Delorges: The students participating in the rallies have now taken the responsibility of replanting trees every year. This is a great example of the multiplier effect of ASPnet: a local initiative started with a small number of ASPnet students and managed to include students and communities from all over the country! What are your expectancies and hopes related to this International Seminar on Climate Change Education? Mr Delorges: Our National Commission is interested in sharing the experiences of other countries and in existing pedagogical materials to be adapted to our local context. We are also looking for the best strategy to include local and national authorities, governmental and private partner to mobilize for climate change education. We can always learn from others and improve our activities. The interview was conducted by U. Storost, ASPnet International Coordination Team, UNESCO, Paris