07 Dec 2023
Cambridge University Press & Assessment’s Global Director for Climate Education, Christine Özden, led a workshop at the opening weekend of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) to discuss how to embed and scale up climate literacy in schools.
The session at the Greening Education Hub on 2 December brought together local and global partners to share expertise on how we prepare current and future generations of learners– in different education systems and contexts – with the skills and knowledge to act on climate change.
In her opening speech, Christine spoke about why education matters in tackling climate change: 'Quite simply, and bluntly, through the avoidance of disaster-related deaths, education saves lives.'
Cambridge is also preparing to launch an innovative new climate literacy programme this month for schools in India, in partnership with Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge’s major climate change initiative.
Christine Özden is Cambridge’s first-ever Global Director for Climate Education. She is leading on a range of initiatives that will help Cambridge International Schools worldwide embed climate change content into the curriculum through Cambridge syllabuses and resources.
Having just completed her first year in the job, Christine has been reflecting on what she’s learned and the vital role that high-quality education plays in tackling the climate crisis. She said: 'As I look ahead to 2024, my focus remains clear: we must go further and faster. We need to be supporting organisations that design and deliver education - schools, governments, academic and educational publishers, assessment bodies, as well as the many education experts, groups and communities engaged in this area - to meet the needs of our teaching and learning communities.
'Individuals and communities need the skills and knowledge required for a different kind of future. They need to be adaptable and resilient for our changing world; inspired and empowered to act. Together we are all learning to tackle the climate crisis.'
Learn more about Cambridge at COP28 on the Cambridge University Press & Assessment website.