Harnessing the transformative potential of education for climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience building in Europe and Central Asia

This brief presents the approach of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region in supporting education systems, education stakeholders and children and adolescents in ECA to develop the policies, structures and skills to mitigate and adapt to climate change and become more resilient to the environmental challenges and natural hazards ahead. Climate change is a planetary and child rights crisis. Climate change can have adverse effects on the health and well-being of children and adolescents, who are much more vulnerable than adults to weather variations and climate-related disasters.

Education for climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience has become a priority area for UNICEF Europe and Central Asia (ECA) as climate change threatens many of the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), including the rights to health, safety, access to a healthy and sustainable environment, and the right education. Education is a crucial component of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Education systems need to be able to prevent and mitigate the risks of climate-related disasters to protect the right of every child to education.