Global NDCs Get Failing Grade On Climate Literacy Ambitions and Gender Education Commitments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — EARTHDAY.ORG, the global organizer of Earth Day, today released an independent study which analyzed each country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the prevalence and depth of inclusion of climate literacy and gender equality. Nationally Determined Contributions are national, long-term climate plans which must be submitted every five years under the Paris Agreement. Out of 165 NDCs reviewed,  EARTHDAY.ORG found that none thoroughly address climate education and/or climate literacy. Only 29 climate plans moderately referenced the issue and cited limited actions for implementation.

EARTHDAY.ORG believes every school in the world must have compulsory, assessed climate and environmental education with a strong civic engagement component. Formally launched in 2020, EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate Literacy Campaign has been working vigorously to secure stepped up ambition on climate education and drive countries to include it in their NDCs. 

EARTHDAY.ORG is working to not only start an education revolution with the Climate Literacy Campaign, but an education revolution that is just and equitable for students from every country, any ethnicity, and for students of all gender identities. It is critical to break down academic silos, embed environmental justice, and prioritize gender equity throughout education systems. The newly released report also evaluates the role of gender in the Nationally Determined Contributions. According to EARTHDAY.ORG’s findings, gender is referenced in 107 NDCs but only 7 countries make the connection between gender equality and climate education and/or literacy. 

“Youth are critical stakeholders in addressing climate change, and providing them with proper education about this should be part of every discussion about climate change. It is unacceptable that most countries haven’t made commitments to climate literacy in their NDCs. Of those that did, their commitments are not sufficient enough to address the climate emergency,” said Rachel Weisbrot, Education and Communications Manager, EARTHDAY.ORG. 

To view the full report, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/ndc-tracking-on-literacy-and-gender/ 

For more information on EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate Literacy Campaign, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/campaign/climate-environmental-literacy/ 

ABOUT EARTHDAY.ORG:
EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org.