Last September, 194 young people stood in the balcony at United Nations Headquarters in New York and witnessed the adoption of the 2030 Agenda.
<p>In a study published in the journal, Climatic Change, researchers evaluating our climate education program found:</p>
<ul>
<li>Students demonstrated a 27% increase in <strong>climate science knowledge</strong>.</li>
<li>More than one-third of students (38%) became <strong>more engaged</strong> on the issue of climate change.</li>
<li>The number of students who talked to parents or peers about climate change <strong>more than doubled</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Article 12 of the final Paris agreement reaffirms that the education is as mean for fighting climate change.</p>
<p>“Parties shall cooperate in taking measures, as appropriate, to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information, recognizing the importance of these steps with respect to enhancing actions under this Agreement”</p>
<p>As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says in Article 6, education contributes to the solutions being developed to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.</p>
<p>“The solutions to climate change are also the paths to a safer, healthier, cleaner and more prosperous future for all. To see this and to understand what needs to be done requires a sharp and sustained focus on education, training and public awareness in all countries and at all levels of government, society and enterprise.”</p>
<p><strong>Key points on why climate change education matters:</strong></p>
<p>- Long-term, independent records from weather stations, satellites, ocean buoys, tide gauges, and many other data sources all confirm that our nation, like the rest of the world, is warming. Scientists who study climate change confirm that these observations are consistent with significant changes in Earth’s climatic trends. (<a href="http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/overview/overview" target="_blank">U.S. National Climate Assessment, 2014</a>)</p>
<p>- Over the 21st century, climate scientists expect Earth’s temperature to continue increasing, very likely more than it did during the 20th century. Two anticipated results are rising global sea level and increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts, and floods. These changes will affect almost every aspect of human society, including economic prosperity, human and environmental health, and national security. (<a href="https://www.climate.gov/teaching/essential-principles-climate-literacy/…; target="_blank">USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009</a>)</p>
<p>- Climate change will bring economic and environmental challenges as well as opportunities, and citizens who have an understanding of climate science will be better prepared to respond to both. (<a href="https://www.climate.gov/teaching/essential-principles-climate-literacy/…; target="_blank">USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009</a>)</p>
<p>- Society needs citizens who understand the climate system and know how to apply that knowledge in their careers and in their engagement as active members of their communities. (<a href="https://www.climate.gov/teaching/essential-principles-climate-literacy/…; target="_blank">USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009</a>)</p>
<p>- Climate change will continue to be a significant element of public discourse. Understanding the essential principles of climate science will enable all people to assess news stories and contribute to their everyday conversations as informed citizens. (<a href="https://www.climate.gov/teaching/essential-principles-climate-literacy/…; target="_blank">USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009</a>)</p>
<p>The #Youth4Climate social media campaign is an effort led by the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a>, the <a href="http://energy.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Energy</a>, the <a href="http://www.astc.org/" target="_blank">Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)</a>, the <a href="http://cleanet.org/clean/community/index.html" target="_blank">CLEAN Network</a>, <a href="http://www.wildcenter.org/" target="_blank">The Wild Center</a>, the World Bank Group’s global partnership program Connect4Climate, <a href="http://www.climategen.org/" target="_blank">Climate Generation</a>, <a href="http://www.earthday.org/" target="_blank">Earth Day Network</a>, <a href="https://www.climateinteractive.org/" target="_blank">Climate Interactive</a>, <a href="http://www.climatesign.org/" target="_blank">Climate Sign</a>, <a href="https://acespace.org/" target="_blank">ACE</a>, and others. It is an open discussion for all to join the youth call for climate action.</p>
<p>Connect4Climate is thrilled to work in partnership with the #Youth4Climate coalition to support young people in taking their place at the center of the climate conversation during the historic events of this week and beyond.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Last December, 195 countries came together in Paris and reached an unprecedented agreement to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. In the wake of the agreement, more than 150 countries confirmed that they will sign the Paris Agreement, on April 22. It’s a record number that marks the first step towards turning the Paris climate agreement into action. </p>
<p>The signing ceremony also brings together leaders from civil society and private sector at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to boost climate action. Connect4Climate will also join to witness this historic moment and take part in significant events that will discuss how to take the COP21 agreement forward. Join us!</p>
<p><strong>Guardian Live Q&A: How can the creative industries encourage climate action? – (April 21st)</strong></p>
<p>In order for policymakers to take decisive steps, the general public in countries around the world need to be fully behind taking action to stop climate change. Article 12 of the Paris Agreement specifically requires governments to “enhance climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information.”<br />
<br />
Join an expert panel to discuss how creative industries can be effectively engaged to raise public awareness of climate change on <strong>Thursday, April 21, 3-5pm BST (10 am -12 pm EST)</strong> on <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/201…;
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/Q%26A_GUARDIAN_Ap…; style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></p>
<p><strong>Panel Discussion: “Media as a Force for Change” at the United Nations (April 21st) </strong></p>
<p>The focus on the panel discussion is on media and creativity for social impact and the critical importance it will have in the future as we move to the implementation of the new climate agreement as well as the new sustainable development goals. Lucia Grenna, Connect4Climate Program Manager, will join a skilled panel that includes experts from RYOT, Vulcan, Global Brain Foundation, United Nations and others.</p>
<p><strong>Digital Media Zone (April 21st-22nd)</strong></p>
<p>Find us at the <a href="http://dmz.news/" target="_blank">Digital Media Zone</a> at the United Nations for engaging conversation and get to know more about Connect4Climate’s initiatives tackling climate change. You will enjoy some of our best <a href="http://connect4climate.org/event/photo4climate-instagram-challenge" target="_blank">#Photo4Climate</a> photos and Virtual Reality video. Also learn more about #Youth4Climate campaign and join us to support youth empowerment in climate action!</p>
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