3rd Conference on Education for Climate Change – An Urgent Call to Action

The use of natural resources and the dynamics of modern-day life have led to an imbalance on the planet that has produced an alarming rise in global warming that forces us to take urgent action to stop it. This is in addition to the Covid-19 health crisis which has, at least temporarily, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and helped improve air quality, while at the same time providing evidence of the interdependency of our actions as a key concept for a sustainable future.

In the face of this reality, STEM education has positioned itself as a powerful response. The integration of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering provides a space for children and youth to understand the causes and consequences of global warming. It also promotes a commitment to new behaviors in favor of environmental protection, mitigation, and adaptation to the implications of climate change in the near future.

However, and according to Claudia Uribe, Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC/UNESCO Santiago): “Our analysis at the regional level shows that while topics related to the environment and ecology are addressed in the educational curricula and programs in most Latin American countries, other key concepts for the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle – such as climate change, pollution, circular economy, and carbon neutrality – show very little presence.”

This weakness and other topics will be addressed in the 3rd International Conference on Education for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, to be held online from June 22nd to 24th. The third consecutive version of this encounter offers a platform for reflection with the goal of proposing actions and solutions to the environmental crisis through an approach focused on STEM, art and culture, active methodologies to develop scientific and creative thinking, among others.

The seminar is organized by the Universidad de Chile, the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, the Office for Climate Education (OCE), UNESCO Regional, and the Siemens Stiftung International Foundation.

“This conference brings together science and education to jointly assume the responsibility for putting a stop to climate change. The modification of our behavior means understanding how these affect the causes of climate change, and our commitment to actions aimed at the decarbonization of the planet will also be supported by a more in-depth understanding. This is why it is fundamental to train teachers in the design of authentic educational projects that generate, within the school context, solutions applicable to their reality,” says Rosa Deves, Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs at the Universidad de Chile.

However, an endeavor of this size requires collective actions, according to Dr. Nina Smidt, Managing Director and Spokesperson for the Siemens Stiftung Foundation: “The urgency demanded by climate change action implies an additional challenge. The changes in habits and behaviors needed to curb and mitigate this damage require a collaborative effort. We must stop acting individually, start promoting expertise, and strengthen networks to position education as the great factor for change and teachers as key players in this process. Our work is defined by collaboration, and this conference is a concrete example of that.”

In the spirit of collaboration, this encounter looks to reach more people and sectors of society to contribute to the care and protection of the environment, while also networking with others that promote sustainable development in Latin America.
Don’t miss the chance to get in on the action.

Check out the program here. You can follow the conference on the YouTube channel of the Universad de Chile: