Climate Education
Peru’s Climate Education Revolution: A Blueprint for Global Action
June 17, 2025
As the world’s climate leaders and negotiators gather in Bonn, Germany for the meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries are cooking together to find ways to cut emissions and protect ecosystems through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
NDCs are climate action plans required under the Paris Agreement. But while nations pour billions into renewable energy and carbon reduction, most are ignoring one of their most powerful weapons against climate change: teaching the next generation about their changing world through climate education.
EARTHDAY.ORG has long called for formal, curriculum-based climate education to be included in every country’s NDC. Education is one of the most effective tools for addressing the climate crisis because it equips students with the knowledge and skills they will need to understand the problems and become part of the solution.
When students learn about climate change in school, they are more likely to take meaningful action in their communities and daily lives. They also become better prepared for the growing number of jobs in the green economy. Climate education can ease the anxiety many young people feel about the future by helping them understand the science, the solutions, and how they can make a difference. It also builds what some experts call “green muscle memory.” This means developing everyday habits, like conserving energy and other resources, that become second nature. These habits not only help protect the planet, but also often save money.
A Landmark Step: Peru’s Climate Education Initiative
While many nations are still lagging behind, Peru has taken a major step forward. On World Environment Day 2025, the Government of Peru launched a national initiative to embed climate and environmental education into the country’s school system. This move sets an example for the rest of the world and shows how education can and should be a central part of a country’s climate strategy.
President Dina Ercilia Boluarte led the announcement of a formal agreement between the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) and the Ministry of Education (MINEDU). This partnership is designed to make climate education a permanent and structured part of school curricula across the country. It includes plans to create culturally relevant learning materials, train teachers and encourage hands-on student-led environmental projects.
The agreement was signed at the Teresa González de Fanning School in Lima, where 120 students were also sworn in as new members of a student environmental brigade. This ceremony highlights the program’s strong emphasis on youth leadership and engagement.
Education is our greatest tool to build a country that protects its nature. Unity is key to caring for Peru, our environment, and our planet.
President Dina Ercilia Boluarte
It is significant that Peru holds the Presidency of the Fórum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LÁC) led by Minister of Peru Juan Castro.
A Call to Action Ahead of Bonn and COP30
Peru’s announcement comes at a crucial moment. The United Nations Bonn Climate Change Conference began yesterday and runs through June 26. Bonn is one of the key lead-up events to COP30, the major global climate summit scheduled for November. These meetings are where countries review and update their NDCs, and where they can choose to prioritize education as part of their climate action.
As of now, only 50 countries explicitly include climate education in their NDCs. Another 117 countries mention it in some way, usually in informal or unstructured terms. Meanwhile, 28 countries make no mention of climate education at all.
Peru has made their choice and it is a wise one – they are backing education in the fight against climate change. We applaud this bold move and hope that it inspires other nations to follow.
Rodolfo Beltran, Regional Director, South America, EARTHDAY.ORG
Peru’s leadership sends a clear and urgent message to the rest of the world: climate education must be a core part of national climate strategies, not an afterthought. By teaching the next generation about sustainability, countries can strengthen their long-term climate goals and create more resilient societies.
EARTHDAY.ORG remains committed to supporting efforts like Peru’s through global partnerships, educational resources, and youth leadership initiatives. To see which countries are including climate education in their NDCs, visit our Climate Education NDCs Tracker.
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