Climate Education
Why Climate Education Could Save the World (And 6 Other Things You Need to Know)
June 18, 2025
As the climate crisis deepens, it’s become clear that reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy, while essential, are not enough. We must tackle climate change at its roots by equipping people with the knowledge and skills to not only respond and adapt to it effectively but also to teach us all how to not add to the problem! That means making climate education a global priority!
For more than twenty years EARTHDAY.ORG has been leading the charge on climate education, working with governments, businesses, educators, and youth to champion the idea that environmental literacy is embedded in both formal and informal learning systems worldwide.
Right now, negotiations are underway at the UN Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB62), which will shape the outcomes of COP30 and influence national climate plans around the world. What happens next will have global repercussions, not just for emissions targets, but for the kind of education we offer the next generation.
Here are six key things you need to know about the movement to make climate education central to climate policy:
1. EARTHDAY.ORG is Hosting an Event in Bonn
The UN Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB62) is a key lead-up to COP30, where world leaders will revisit and revise their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are their countries’ official addition to global climate action.
On Friday, June 20, 2025, EARTHDAY.ORG will host the “High-Level Climate Education + NDCs Reception” at the Club Lounge in the World Conference Center Bonn. The event will include remarks by our Director of Education Bryce Coon, a high-level panel moderated by Max Falcone and Johnny Dabrowski, youth speakers, and a networking session. The goal: bring together government and civil society leaders to spotlight how climate education and climate finance can accelerate the global transition to a green economy and therefore why climate education must be a solid aspect of their NDCs.
Pull quote: “A decade after the Paris Agreement, we must shift from commitment to action… Let us make [climate education] central to every NDC on the road to COP30.” – Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG
If you are interested in attending, reach out to Johnny [email protected].
2. LinkedIn and EARTHDAY.ORG Call on Business Leaders to Champion Climate Education
In 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG launched a campaign urging business leaders to support integrating climate education into schools, colleges, and vocational training. Major companies like Microsoft, UPS, LinkedIn, and AXA have already pledged their support.
Climate education isn’t just about science; it’s about workforce readiness. From blue-collar workers to CEOs, tomorrow’s workforce must be equipped with the skills needed for a green economy. The demand for green jobs is growing rapidly, with an estimated 100 million new jobs by 2030, and climate education is essential to closing the skills gap. The job market is clearly in demand for those educated on the climate and how it affects their work.
The hiring rate for green talent is 54.6% greater than the hiring rate overall.
LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report
Efrem Bycer will also speak at EDO’s Bonn reception, representing LinkedIn’s ongoing commitment to this cause. His insight as someone in the hiring field will bring depth to this conversation and we feel so privileged that he is participating.
Businesses interested in signing the open letter as a commitment to preparing both current and future workers with the knowledge they need to enter the workforce can contact Ryan Taylor at [email protected].
3. EARTHDAY.ORG Has Been Leading the Charge On Climate Education for Years
The first Earth Day in 1970 was started with education in its core. Denis Hayes, a college student at the time, knew that students were going to be the lifeline on the environmental movement, and they strategically placed it on April 22nd in between Spring Break and finals. To this day, we live with this in mind. With a vision to ensure that every student, regardless of geography, is empowered through climate and environmental literacy, EARTHDAY.ORG integrates civic engagement and sustainability education across grade levels.
The Climate Education campaign aims to ensure students are equipped with the knowledge, critical thinking, and leadership skills necessary to confront the climate crisis. Education is a tool that fosters informed decision-making, civic responsibility, and urgency to act.
By embedding environmental literacy into curricula and shaping policy, EARTHDAY.ORG helps prepare the next generation of leaders, workers, and voters to build a more sustainable and resilient future. We have a plethora of toolkits and teaching guides to help teachers and students adapt to climate education.
4. Climate Education Eases Climate Anxiety
Young people are facing not only climate disasters but also the emotional toll they bring. From biodiversity loss to ecosystem collapse, and from policy rollbacks to plastic in the food chain, Gen Z is overwhelmed. A 2023 APA report found widespread stress and trauma among youth due to climate threats, with 45% globally saying climate anxiety affects them daily.
But knowledge is power, and many are transforming this anxiety into action with education. Events like ZCON mobilize Gen Z by connecting digital activism with real-world solutions. This is because education empowers them with the knowledge of what is happening and what can be done to fix it.
That is precisely why EARTHDAY.ORG is working to expand environmental literacy in K-12 schools and higher education, ensuring climate education and civic engagement are accessible to all students. You can support this cause by signing the Climate Literacy Petition and urging global leaders at COP30 to integrate environmental education into curricula worldwide.
5. EARTHDAY.ORG is Building Green Muscle Memory
Green muscle memory refers to the process by which climate-positive behaviors become automatic over time; actions like choosing public transport over driving, turning off your appliances when you leave a room, or opening your windows rather than turning on the AC.
This muscle memory is much easier to adopt in youth, so should begin in childhood and be reinforced consistently through education. Research shows that educating just 16% of secondary schools in middle- and high-income countries could reduce nearly 19 gigatons of CO₂ by 2050, the equivalent of removing emissions from 80 million homes!
The long-term goal is to embed sustainable habits across professions and industries, from architects to engineers to everyday citizens, by normalizing climate-smart thinking through consistent, early education. Though we as individuals are not solely responsible for the climate crisis, nor can we solve it on our own. Sustainable habits aren’t a silver bullet, but they create ripple effects across communities and professions, helping normalize climate-conscious thinking in everyday life..
6. EARTHDAY.ORG is Demanding All Countries Include Climate Education in Their NDCs
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate action plans that countries submit as part of their commitment to the Paris Agreement. NDCs are central to each country’s climate strategy. Yet one of the most effective and scalable solutions, climate education, is too often missing.
Climate Education is clearly lucrative and necessary. It drives economic growth, reduces emissions, and supports mental health. That’s why EARTHDAY.ORG is calling on every nation to make formal, curriculum-based environmental education a requirement in their next NDCs.
As it stands, 50 countries have explicitly included climate education in their NDCs. An additional 70 countries mention climate education and offer programming in non-formal settings, but do not include policies to integrate it into the national curriculum. Another 47 countries reference climate education similarly, but without clear structural commitments. Alarmingly, 28 countries have not mentioned climate education at all in their national plans.
To hold governments accountable, EARTHDAY.ORG has created the Climate Education NDCs Tracker, a tool that evaluates how countries are incorporating education into their climate strategies. This includes formal education, teacher training, youth leadership, and community engagement. This tool is part of a larger push to ensure education is not left behind in the global response to the climate crisis.
Climate education may not seem flashy, but it is a cornerstone of real, lasting climate action. It should be cross-disciplinary, hands-on, and accessible to every student. If you’re a parent, teacher, or policymaker who wants to get involved, visit our Climate Education webpage to see our toolkits, curriculum and teaching guides.
This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at [email protected] or [email protected].Want more articles? Follow us on substack.
