The climate crisis is an education crisis. Education systems are both severely impacted by environmental and climate crises and have a critical role to play in securing a sustainable future for all. Among other things, floods, droughts, increased incidence of diseases and excessive temperatures can lead to school closures, student absenteeism, weaker physical and cognitive development, compounding the existing learning crisis. Education is also essential to provide people with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, addressing the root causes and risks it poses to lives, livelihoods and well-being. The humanitarian and disaster preparedness communities have long found themselves at the forefront of preparing for and addressing the consequences of climate shocks on children’s and youth’s learning to ensure educational continuity in safe learning environments and strengthening the resilience of education systems to respond to climate-related shocks. This includes essential, lifesaving education support. However, with the increasing and projected impacts of climate change, there is an urgency to integrate climate change into all aspects of the education system, thereby building climate-smart education systems. This calls for education actors to work together across the humanitarian and development spheres but also with other sectors, in particular climate and environment. The Education in Emergencies (EiE) community works in close collaboration with the child protection sector and is strengthening joined-up approaches with food, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, and other sectors. It is helping education actors – including Ministries of Education, local actors, teachers and civil society – to prepare and reduce risks, build resilience and deliver finance quickly.

Against this background, the session spotlights some of the recently produced evidence and practical guidance in the climate-education nexus and explores opportunities for strengthened collaboration to build climate-smart education systems that can both prepare and withstand shocks while also leveraging education#&39;s critical role in securing a sustainable future for all.

This session will feature insights from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Kenya, Education Cannot Wait, the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, the Global Education Cluster, the Global Partnership for Education, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and a Global Youth Leader. Based on these insights, we invite you for an engaging discussion on emerging evidence and opportunities for strengthened collaboration.