About 400 million children globally have faced school closures due to extreme weather events since 2022, according to a new report from the World Bank. The report, titled “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action”, emphasizes the severe impacts of climate change on education, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and proposes strategies to utilize education as a tool for climate action.
CLIMATE CRISIS AND EDUCATIONAL DISRUPTIONS
The report highlights that the climate crisis disproportionately affects education in low-income countries, where students lose an average of 18 school days annually due to climate-related events, compared to just 2.4 days in wealthier nations. Over the lifetime of a 10-year-old in 2024, they will face three times more floods, five times more droughts, and 36 times more heat waves compared to a 10-year-old in 1970. In Brazil, students in poorer municipalities could lose up to half a year’s learning solely due to heat.
EDUCATION’S ROLE IN CLIMATE ACTION
Mamta Murthi, Vice President at the World Bank, stresses the urgency of integrating climate education into school systems. “Young people are directly impacted by this crisis, and they are eager to act. Yet education systems are not delivering the information, skills, and opportunities they need in a climate-affected world.” The report argues that education is not just at risk but is also underrepresented in climate financing, with only 1.5% of climate funds allocated to education.
COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE
The report suggests that a one-time investment of $18.51 per child could significantly mitigate the impacts of climate shocks. This investment would focus on:
- Improving classroom temperatures
- Building resilient school infrastructure
- Training teachers to handle climate-related disruptions
Luis Benveniste, Global Director of Education at the World Bank, notes, “The promising news is that there are many low-cost steps that governments can take to harness education for climate action while adapting education systems to climate change.”
BRIDGING THE KNOWLEDGE GAP
Surveys from the report reveal a disconnect between young people’s desire to act on climate change and their actual knowledge and skills. Approximately 65% of youth across eight countries feel their futures are at risk if they do not acquire green skills. However, 60% believe they did not learn enough about climate change in school. The report emphasizes that each year of education increases climate awareness by nearly 9%.
DEMYSTIFYING GREEN SKILLS
The report challenges common misconceptions about green jobs. Many young people mistakenly believe that STEM skills are essential for green jobs. However, World Bank data shows that green skills are in demand across various skill levels and sectors, with 31% of green jobs in the Philippines classified as medium-skill roles.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
To address these challenges, the report recommends:
- Enhancing foundational and STEM skills
- Mainstreaming climate education
- Building teacher capacity
- Prioritizing green skilling and innovation in tertiary education
These steps will help harness education to drive climate action and foster a shift toward more sustainable practices.
