"Greening Curriculum Guidance: Teaching and Learning for Climate Action" is publication UNESCO from 2024, which provides a guide to integrating climate change and sustainability issues into educational programs. The aim is to support countries, schools and educators in re-evaluating their practices and adopting a more action-oriented, holistic and scientifically accurate approach to climate change education.

Key objectives and principles

• Global goal: By 2030, achieve that 90 % countries include climate change in their curricula.
• Transforming education: Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to address the climate crisis and support a sustainable future.
• Holistic approach: Include climate change in all subjects, not just science.
• Action orientation: Education should lead to practical steps and changes in behavior.
• Justice: Take into account the uneven impacts of climate change on different communities and promote equitable solutions.
• Lifelong learning: Climate change education should be available to all age groups and in various forms.
• Key principles: Scientific accuracy, timeliness, age appropriateness, respect for indigenous peoples, balance, complexity, cultural relevance, inclusiveness and consideration of intergenerational equality.

Methodology and structure of the manual The handbook has been developed based on the demands of young people and with the input of experts and practitioners from different regions of the world. It takes into account the diversity of national and local contexts and respects the right of governments to determine the content of educational programs.

• Structure: The manual is divided into several sections covering context, methodology, key concepts, expected learning outcomes and implementation.
• Key concepts: The guide focuses on six key concepts: climate science, ecosystems and biodiversity, climate justice, building resilience, post-carbon economies, and sustainable lifestyles. Each concept is divided into topics with definitions and expected learning outcomes for different age groups.
• Methodology: The handbook is based on extensive research and analysis of existing practices, with input from experts from various fields. UNESCO and the Greening Education Partnership working group collaborated with many organizations and specialists to review and pilot drafts of the handbook.

Key concepts and themes

1. Climate science:
   • Weather, climate and climate change.
   • Greenhouse gases and their impact.
   • The carbon and water cycle in nature.
   • Pollution control and resource conservation.
   • Renewable energy sources.
2. Ecosystems and biodiversity:
   • Natural environment: ecosystems and biodiversity (on land and in the oceans).
   • Development of biodiversity over time and in the future.
   • Man's relationship to nature: domestication and agriculture.
   • Human-induced biodiversity loss and its consequences.
   • Restoring connection with nature and its protection.
3. Climate justice:
   • Current manifestations of climate injustice.
   • Social determinants of climate justice.
   • Historical economic and political processes.
   • Transformed futures.
4. Building resilience:
   • Social impacts of climate change.
   • Managing climate impacts: strategies for security and resilience.
   • Climate anxiety and constructive coping with it.
   • Strength in connectivity.
   • Urgency and community action.
   • Fighting climate disinformation.
5. Post-carbon economies:
   • Economic growth and development.
   • Circular economy and everyday life.
   • Climate change and our economies.
   • Energy consumption and carbon emissions.
   • Our role in the post-carbon economy.
6. Sustainable lifestyle:
   • Responsible consumption.
   • Use of renewable energy.
   • Sustainable housing.
   • Sustainable mobility.
   • Sustainable eating.
   • Sustainable waste management.

Implementation and evaluation The guide emphasizes the importance an institutional-wide approach to implement climate change education that encompasses all aspects of the functioning of a school or educational institution. It is also important strengthening partnerships between schools, civic organizations, local governments and the private sector.

Implementation steps:

1. Analysis of existing curricula: Assessing how climate change topics are already included in the curriculum.
2. Defining educational goals: Setting clear and measurable goals that are consistent with sustainability principles.
3. Integration into all subjects: Finding ways to connect climate change topics with different subjects.
4. Transformational pedagogy: Using methods that promote critical thinking, problem solving, and active student engagement.
5. Community involvement: Involving local communities and organizations in the educational process.
6. Progress assessment: Monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of climate change education, including cognitive, social, emotional and behavioral aspects.

Assessing student progress should be holistic and include cognitive, social and emotional, and behavioral domains. A variety of assessment techniques may be used, such as essays, projects, observations, artistic expressions, and participation in discussions.

The importance of community involvement Transformative education includes formal, non-formal and informal education. Education on sustainability and climate change can take place in natural history museums, zoos, aquariums and nature centres. UNESCO sites can be used to better understand the relationships between people and the natural environment.

Examples of community projects they include understanding the impacts of climate change by location, linking climate change to health education, and collaborating with scientists.

Challenges and opportunities The guide identifies several challenges that countries face in integrating climate change education into their programs, including a lack of curriculum examples, overloaded curricula, the perception of climate change as a topic suitable only for science, and a lack of teacher capacity.

The handbook emphasizes that successfully integrating climate change education into national policies requires political support, strategic planning, teacher training, and community engagement. Spring