EARTHDAY.ORG CELEBRATES HISTORIC EUROPEAN UNION MOVE TO MAKE CLIMATE EDUCATION CENTRAL TO CLIMATE ACTION

Washington, D.C. – EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO), the global organizer of the Earth Day movement—observed by more than one billion people each April 22—celebrates the European Union’s landmark decision to integrate climate education into school curricula from kindergarten through grade 12, as part of its 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.

“The inclusion of climate education in the EU NDC is an important step toward equipping students with green skills and countering climate disinformation.  This progress has been made possible through the collective engagement of civil society organizations working in dialogue with public authorities, with EARTHDAY.ORG contributing as one of many committed partners in this process.” Katarzyna Wrona, Director at Department of Clean Air and Climate Negotiations, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Republic of Poland

The Danish Presidency formally submitted the European Union’s NDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 5 November 2025. By officially incorporating climate education across its 27 member states, the EU joins more than 60 other countries that have adopted EARTHDAY.ORG–model language in their NDCs—helping to cement climate literacy as a global standard for climate action.

“The inclusion of climate education in the EU’s NDC is a significant victory for young people across Europe. Strengthening green skills in curricula will make young Europeans better prepared and more competitive in the green job market but also combat the rise of climate misinformation which is arising across Europe.  This achievement is the result of strong collaboration between governments, youth, and civil society. Our dear youth colleague from EARTHDAY.ORG has been an important advocate for advancing climate education at the EU level.”  Sigurd Krabbe, Denmark’s Youth Delegate to the UN for Climate and Environment 

This milestone marks the result of over a decade of bold EDO advocacy.

“As we navigate the climate emergency, quality climate education is as fundamental as teaching reading and writing. Teachers are determined to empower students for climate action and a just transition but we need policies that provide us with enabling conditions.  Through our Teach for the Planet campaign and together with EARTHDAY.ORG, we are advocating for governments everywhere to recognize and fund climate education as the essential adaptation measure and resource that it is.”

Dave Edwards, General Secretary, Education International

The World Bank’s Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action finds demand for “green skills” outpaces supply. The World Economic Forum reports job postings requiring at least one green skill rose 22.4% from 2022 to 2023. 

“The green transition will create over 100 million new jobs globally in the next decade. To fill these roles, workers need green skills, and climate education teaches them. It’s non-negotiable for global economic growth and prosperity.” Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG.

“The transition to a green economy won’t happen without a workforce with the right skills, and demand for green skills continues to outpace supply. EARTHDAY.ORG’s success in helping more than 150 countries include climate education in their updated NDCs is a major step forward. This achievement aligns with insights from LinkedIn’s 2025 Global Green Skills Report: climate education doesn’t just tackle climate change—it connects people to jobs and economic opportunity. By prioritizing climate education, these nations are investing in both a sustainable future and an inclusive economy.” Efrem Bycer, Head of Workforce and Climate Policy Partnerships, LinkedIn

Last month, the Vatican endorsed climate education and integral ecology, highlighting EDO’s advocacy in Vatican News alongside the release of its updated NDC.  

The EU and the Vatican are not alone — nations across the political and economic spectrum are now integrating climate education into their NDCs.

 “It has been clearly recognized that this joint effort among countries would not have been possible without international organizations such as EARTHDAY.ORG and agencies such as the United Nations and UNEP. They are crucial because they provide support, financing, and initiatives that help countries move forward.” Minister Juan Carlos Castro Vargas, Minister of the Environment of Peru

COP30, currently underway in Belém, Brazil, provides an ideal forum to discuss financing so that every nation can scale climate education.

“The Kenya Climate Change Strategy mooted in 2021 aims at enhancing climate change knowledge, interpretation and its applications among learners, teachers, trainers and facilitators by 2030. The specific actions range from integration of climate curriculum at all levels, capacity building for teachers and trainers in climate change, and enhancing research and innovation in climate change. In this regard, Kenya is proud to have integrated climate education into the heart of our NDC 3.0. This decisive action, aligned with the global efforts of the Climate Education Coalition, Earth Day, and multilateral development banks, signals our commitment. Now, our priority is to move from commitment to implementation. This requires concrete support from global climate finance. Investing in climate education is not just an expense; it is one of the most effective forms of adaptation—it means training new, aware, and prepared generations to face future challenges while ensuring a just and sustainable development path for all.” Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Kenya

 “We grew up learning about the great forests, oceans and rivers of the world but not how to care for them even though our lives are dependent on them. We didn’t learn that the industries that make us prosperous are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and that we must use clean energy and clean tech to keep the planet livable. Thank you to the Governments supporting the climate curriculum – our children will know better.” Sharan Burrow, Vice Chair, European Climate Foundation, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) & former teacher

“Climate education helps children understand and care for our planet, because they are the future. Through EARTHDAY.ORG, young people everywhere are learning how to protect the Earth’s health—the world they will live in and pass on to the next generations. When children learn to love and protect the planet, they become the hope of tomorrow.” Mr. Tebwaatoki Taawetia, Permanent Secretary,  Kiribati

“Climate education stands as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for transformative change, empowering individuals and communities alike to confront the pressing climate challenges of today and tomorrow. All institutions supporting this noble endeavor, including EARTHDAY.ORG, need great commendation.” Modou Cham, Principal Climate Change Officer, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, Gambia

“Climate education empowers individuals to understand and act on the forces shaping our planet, turning awareness into meaningful change.  Quality climate education builds the skills, awareness and agency we need today so future generations can reshape our planet’s trajectory. By equipping young minds with knowledge about Earth’s systems and humanity’s impact (where the work of the earthday.orgis recognised), we invest in a future where responsible decisions protect a healthy, less carbon and more resilient environment for all.” Ms. Teodora Obradovikj Grncharovska, State counselor, North Macedonia

“In Liberia, Climate education is gaining momentum with the development and implementation of curricula ranging from primary to tertiary education institutions in helping to train the human resources of the country to fight against Climate Change.”  Mr. Benjamin S. Karmorh, Jr, Chief Technical Advisor and UNFCCC Focal Point, Liberia

“Climate education connects science, policy, and communities — it is the foundation for meaningful participation and lasting solutions. In the Amazon Communities, where the balance between conservation and development defines our future, education empowers local voices and builds capacity for the energy transition. EARTHDAY.ORG’s global leadership reinforces this bridge, ensuring that knowledge becomes action across regions.” André Guimarães, COP30 Special Envoy for Civil Society

“Education is not only about knowledge; it’s about purpose, transformation and collaboration. As we face the realities of the climate crisis, empowering young people with climate literacy becomes an act of leadership.I value EARTHDAY.ORG’s commitment to education that embodies the excellence and entrepreneurial spirit needed to build a more sustainable future.” Purdey Morgan, Climate Content Marketing Manager, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, England

 “Integrating climate education into national strategies is fundamental to empowering our citizens and strengthening the resilience of our ancestral communities. In Guatemala, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources works closely with Mayan territories to promote knowledge, adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods as part of our national energy transition. EARTHDAY.ORG’s global efforts amplify this vision, ensuring that education becomes a bridge between traditional wisdom and the scientific innovation our century demands.” Ing. Andrea Lucrecia Fión Góngora Directora Dirección de Cambio Climático Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales,  Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala 

“A educação climática é um dos elementos essenciais para fortalecer a consciência ambiental, a inovação e a competitividade sustentável das empresas. A Firjan Sesi e a Firjan Senai acreditam que o conhecimento é um importante alicerce para transformar os desafios contemporâneos em oportunidades, preparando profissionais e comunidades para ações em transição energética. A atuação global da EARTHDAY.ORG reforça esse compromisso, conectando educação, sustentabilidade e o desenvolvimento econômico.”  Jorge Peron Mendes, Gerente da Gerência de Sustentabilidade, FIRJAN Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil  

 “Climate education connects science, policy, and communities — it is the foundation for meaningful participation and lasting solutions. Across South America, where the balance between conservation and development defines our common future, education empowers local voices, strengthens governance, and builds capacity for a just energy transition. EARTHDAY.ORG’s global leadership reinforces this bridge, transforming knowledge into action for people and nature.” Gabriel Quijandría, Regional Director for South America, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Former Minister of Environment of Peru Quito, Ecuador  

“Climate education is the engine of the energy transition. That’s why we value the role of EARTHDAY.ORG in creating green jobs and preparing citizens to face the challenges of the 21st century.” Renata Moraes, Founder of the Brazilian Coalition for Climate Education (CBEC) Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil

 “Climate education transforms communities and inspires action. Across Brazil, the projects of Limpa Brasil – Let’s Do It! show that when people unite around a common purpose, they become protagonists of the energy transition and the building of more sustainable cities. The work of EARTHDAY.ORG strengthens this network of active citizenship, connecting education, the environment, and collective responsibility in every state of the country.” Edilainne Muniz Pereira, Director of Limpa Brasil – Let’s Do It! São Paulo, SP, Brasil   

“Building on the Holy See’s profound and consistent commitment to creation—powerfully demonstrated by Pope Francis’s Earth Day messages since 2016 and now decisively continued by Pope Leo—the Vatican has formally embedded climate education into its new commitment. This very NDC serves as a testament to that continuity, and as Vatican News highlighted, it stems from a historic advocacy where EARTHDAY.ORG played a key role, helping build a global consensus of over 150 nations and creating an undeniable mandate for all faiths and cultures to now unite and implement this shared vision. When we began this advocacy five years ago, the global climate architecture was rigid. NDCs were seen almost exclusively through the technical lens of mitigation and adaptation. But education has been the catalyst for a true paradigm shift. It has shattered those silos, opening the door for youth, culture, and the full power of human ingenuity to enter the heart of climate action. We are no longer just informing people; we are empowering a generation of conscious global citizens. This is the foundation for a new world—unleashing the creative, innovative, and collaborative solutions we desperately need.”  Max Falcone, Special Envoy, Climate Education Coalition

The EDO NDC CLIMATE EDUCATION TRACKER  is updated daily and serves as an important tool for monitoring the integration of climate education into national commitments.  The schedule for our on-the-ground teams’ speaking events at COP30 can be found HERE.

About EARTHDAY.ORG: EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG has become the largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with 150,000+ partners in over 190 countries. One billion people participate in Earth Day activities annually, making it the world’s largest civic observance. Visit www.earthday.org to learn more.

Media Inquiries/comment and for more information please contact: Sarah T  Davies – [email protected], +1 240 263 1341 (Washington D.C.) Terran Fielder – [email protected], +1 661 444 4436 (Washington, D.C.)