Pacific SIDS discuss Climate Change Education

• UNESCO Apia
• Pacific participants

Education representatives from the Pacific recently travelled to Paris to take part in the UNESCO International Seminar on Climate Change Education. The three day seminar was held at UNESCO’s headquarters from Monday July 27th and focused on the role of education in addressing climate change with particular emphasis on the challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS).

The seminar was opened by, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, together with Mr Dam Kristensen, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Denmark to UNESCO. The seminar, was organized by UNESCO with the financial support of the Government of Denmark and involved nearly 100 delegates.

Mr Matusuura in his opening address commented that “For UNESCO, climate change education is an integral part of the vision of education for sustainable development (ESD)”; “a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from quality education and gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development and positive societal transformation.”

The meeting participants included numerous climate change experts and educators, representatives of governments and civil society from all regions, including many SIDS, and several multilateral agencies.

Pacific representatives were actively involved in the conference presentations and discussion, with eight Pacific participants drawn from ministries of education, South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), UNESCO Apia Office, University of the South Pacific, Live & Learn Environmental Education and University of Auckland.

During the first day of the seminar Ms Jane Taurarii and Ms Gail Townsend (Cook Islands Ministry of Education) presented a paper titled “Why do I have mangoes in July?”, which highlighted the dynamic impacts of climate change on education in the Cook Islands.

Further, Ms Carole Young from the University of Auckland presented on challenge of developing climate change literacy amongst Pacific students.

During the second and third days of the seminar, Pacific delegates worked with SIDS colleagues from the Caribbean and Indian Oceans to develop recommendations on three key challenges in climate change education.
• Integrating climate change into educational policies, programmes and curricula
• Climate Change education tools, materials and good practices
• Mobilizing/engaging networks and partnerships for climate change education

The seminar recommendation statement is currently being reviewed by the seminar organizers.

• Source:UNESCO Apia
• 31-07-2009

• UNESCO Apia / L. Ellerton - Cook Island's participants presenting their paper "Why do I have mangoes in July?"