Climate change is a change in average weather patterns observed in a given region over a certain period of time. These patterns include all the elements that we usually associate with the weather, such as temperature, wind and precipitation. Climate change on a world scale, refers to modifications the totality of the planet's climate suffers. In the long term, the speed and scope of climate-related changes can have numerous consequences on the ecosystems and on human activities.
From 1880 to 2012, the average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. Maize, wheat and other major crops have experienced significant yield reductions at the global level amounting to 40 megatons per year between 1981 and 2002 due to a warmer climate. From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to ice melting. The Arctic’s sea ice has consistently shrunk since 1979, with an average 1.07 million km² lost every decade. Given current concentrations and ongoing emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that by the end of this century, the increase in global temperature will exceed 1.5°C since 1900. Average sea level rise is predicted to attain 24–30 cm by the year 2065 and 40-63 cm by 2100. Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50% since 1990.
Why Education is crucial to achieving SDG-13
Improved Climate Change Education (CCE) raises awareness about human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation and impact reduction, as well as on early warning systems. CCE also promotes mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, with a focus on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. (Access to Learning objectives for SDG-13)
At this level, the understanding of the child's natural surroundings is enhanced through forest/nature classes. Learners acquire gardening and plant-growing skills while developing their keenness to investigate. (Access Educational materials here)
Learners at this stage develop a basic understanding of climate science, including the carbon cycles, and of the effects of greenhouse gases and their physical impacts, such as the rise in sea-level and extreme weather conditions. They become aware of climate vulnerability and are able to analyze the impacts of human activities and the consequences of personal actions on climate change. (Access Educational materials here)
Students develop their understanding of mitigation and adaptation and the necessary skills to monitor the environment and analyze results in order to take appropriate actions. They are able to take informed decisions on their use and consumption patterns, leading to a reduction of their CO2 emissions and electricity use, and to improved recycling behavior. (Access Educational materials here)
Pedagogical Resources
- Simon Says ‘Save The Climate’ Handbook - Go on a song-filled cartoon adventure with Simon the Hippo and friends as they learn about the world's changing climate, the role that carbon dioxide and methane play, and the good eco habits.
- Simon Says ‘Save the Climate’ - Go on a song-filled cartoon adventure with Simon the Hippo and friends as they learn about the world's changing climate, the role that carbon dioxide and methane play, and the good eco habits.
- The Shark Fin Soup - A comic adventure on climate change.
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- Show The Love - By getting involved, your school will join community groups, Premiership football clubs, artists, singers, poets, astronauts and hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to show the love for the people, places and life you want to protect from climate change.
- Laudato Si' - Care For Our Common Home - Pope Francis has written a letter addressed to every person on the planet, asking us all to protect the earth. Will you play your part to protect our common home?
Multimedia Educational Resources
- Go On A Climate Adventure With Your School
- Take Aim At Climate Change - The "Take AIM at Climate Change" music video features lyrics based on the latest science, images showing NASA visualizations, and rhymes and rhythms inspired by contemporary rap and hip-hop.
- Simon Says: ‘Sign The Paris Agreement Pledge’ - Sign the pledge at and urge President Trump to get the US back into the Paris Agreement! (The US is the only country in the entire world not in the Agreement).
Get Inspired
- Earth Kids Space Programme Goi Peace Foundation, Japan - Page 13 - Under the theme of “cultivating children’s spontaneity and creativity” and “promoting Education for Sustainable Development,” Earth Kids Space Programme provides unique learning experiences for children in afterschool and weekend settings. Earth Kids Space Programme has successfully offered opportunities for children to learn to “think globally and act locally” through live experiences and various types of learning materials with a multi-disciplinary approach. It is open to every child regardless of age, nationality background and any disabilities. The whole programme is designed as an ESD initiative for capacity-building of children of all age groups to cultivate the four objectives of independence, harmony, global understanding, and love and peace.
Pedagogical Resources
- Climate Change Starter’s Guidebook - This guidebook is intended to support educators in developing their understanding of the science of climate change, observed and anticipated impacts, and different possible responses.
- Sandwatch – Adapting To Climate Change And Educating For Sustainable Development - Sandwatch links classroom activities to real-life issues relating to climate change, environment, sustainable development, cultural diversity, science and more. It encourages practitioners, young and old, to take action to care for their environment.
- Chakra The Invincible - A special adventure to support action on Climate Change.
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- Climate Change - Thanks to this resource:
- Learners will learn about each other’s personal experiences, knowledge and feelings concerning climate change;
- The activity will bring out learners’ collective experience and level of understanding of climate change.
- Climate Change Challenge Badge - This climate change challenge badge specifically supports goals number 12 and 13. The Badge will help you better understand why climate change matters and motivate you to take action and become positive drivers of change.
- Energy Conservation: Did I Remember To? - Volunteer activity on energy conservation.
Multimedia Educational Resources
- Climate Challenge - As the world gets hotter, the climate will change and some of the extreme effects we have witnessed will become more frequent; making our planet a more hostile place to live.
- The Greenhouse Effect - This video is one of five short clips created to provide you with experiments to carry out in class with your students.
- UAE Ecological Footprint Animation - In 2006, the Living Planet Report ranked the UAE as having the highest per capita Ecological Footprint in the world. The Al Basma Al Beeiyah Initiative was launched to monitor consumption patterns in the country.
Get Inspired
- Al Izhar Youth Community Service: An Environmental Project Aiming to Save the Protected Area in Mt. Halimun, West Java - SMA Al Izhar Pondok Labu (private secondary) - Page 40 - The project is related to the ESD sub-themes of climate change and the prevention and reduction of disasters. In terms of the MDGs, it helps to ensure environmental sustainability. In the process of reforestation, we are also providing livelihood for the local population, empowering people, and reducing poverty. Regarding the ESD subthemes, under the economic sector, “Sustainable Production and Consumption and Poverty Reduction” can be applied to this project. The project is to build students’ awareness by acting on the urgent need to tackle wildlife poaching, erosion, landslides and expanding agricultural areas in Mt. HalimunSalak National Park, West Java. The students and the teachers conducted ecological restoration by planting economically viable and ethnobotanically significant native species.
Pedagogical Resources
- Action for Climate Empowerment - Guidelines for accelerating solutions through education, training and public awareness.
- Getting climate ready: A guide for schools on climate action - The guide explains why schools should take on a whole-school approach to climate action, outlines how schools can plan, put into practice, and evaluate their own strategies and visions for reducing climate change. It further provides six guidelines that suggest how to concretely include climate action in school governance, teaching and learning, campus and facility management, and partnerships with the community.
- YouthXChange Climate Change and Lifestyles Guidebook - The YouthXchange Guidebook on Climate Change and Lifestyles, focuses on the challenges, opportunities and good practices of climate change, and is produced for young people and educators, teachers, trainers and youth leaders.
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- UNESCO Course For Secondary Teachers On Climate Change Education For Sustainable Development - This course has been created with the goal of bringing climate change education outside the science classroom into the many other subject areas upon which climate change impacts.
- Climate Change - By using this resource:
- Learners will learn about each other’s personal experiences, knowledge and feelings concerning climate change;
- The activity will bring out learners’ collective experience and level of understanding of climate change.
Multimedia Educational Resources
- Education For Disaster Preparedness - UNESCO provides tools for integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into schools and provides training for teachers and educators on how to educate children and youth to prepare for disasters.
- Namibia – The Crisis Of Drought - Struggling to survive the severe shortage of food and water, people in Namibia’s Kunene region have no choice but to wait out the worst drought in three decades. UNICEF says over 700,000 people including 109,000 children under the age of five are at risk of malnutrition.
- Visualizing A Warming World - This map shows impacts from climate change, including heat waves, droughts, desertification, floods in Pakistan, India, China, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, and heat waves in the United States, Europe and Australia.
Get Inspired
- Jordan- A rest in a pine forest- Ministry of Education of Jordan - Page 33 - This project represents a step forward in promoting awareness of the various uses of pine forests over and above their role as sites for Eco-tourism. It is widely agreed that gymnosperms can solve many environmental problems, such as desertification, pollution and soil erosion. First, the students learned about desertification in Jordan and subsequently the students explored the biology of pine forest ecosystems. Then a questionnaire was designed to enhance knowledge about desertification and the economic parameters of the pine forest.
