Robust climate action cannot happen without capacity-building

As the world gears up for 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29), set to take place in Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November, governments, civil society, the private sector and the UN are expected to respond to one fundamental challenge: How can we unlock climate action to accelerate progress towards the collective goals established by both the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?

Even though we all know there is no silver bullet to promote the broad global transformation required by these agreements, there is a growing consensus that robust climate education and capacity-building is crucial for addressing the issues surrounding climate change. All Parties and stakeholders must have adequate capacity to design and implement climate-informed policies to enhance climate action and face the challenges ahead. Similarly, the UN system must be ready to support Member States in their endeavour to increase ambition and speed up the transition towards climate resilient development which benefits people and the planet.

Let's explore the importance of climate education in driving progress on the key issues that will be discussed at COP 29.

The role of climate education in COP 29's priority areas

The COP29 Presidency recently announced that this edition of the conference will have two main pillars: (i) to enhance ambition, ensuring that national plans are aligned with the 1.5°C temperature target; and (ii) to enable action, focusing on the critical role that finance, technology and capacity-building have on advancing climate action.

These pillars will guide the discussions on the key priority areas, among which are climate finance, youth participation, carbon markets, and the climate-peace nexus.

Spearheading the change needed to scale up efforts in all these areas, will require all relevant stakeholders to move away from business as usual and embark on a journey that fosters climate-resilience development which leaves no one behind. Needless to say, climate education is a critical enabler of this big shift that involves changing mindsets and behaviours and aims at ensuring that everyone can equally benefit from a just climate transition.

Here are some of the core contributions climate education has to offer in support of the COP 29 priority areas.

1. Climate finance education

Climate finance plays a crucial role in ensuring funds are available to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. However, without proper education, many stakeholders may fail to understand how climate finance operates, who it benefits, or how to access it. Capacity-building programmes provide essential insights into innovative financial mechanisms, such as green bonds, carbon pricing, and sustainable investments. By increasing awareness, these programmes empower countries, companies, and communities to take advantage of available funding and ensure it is allocated efficiently.

1. Building climate resilience through education

Climate resilience is another top priority at COP 29, especially as more countries grapple with the adverse effects of climate change. Climate education can be a powerful tool in building resilience at the local, regional, and global levels as it presents theoretical and practical aspects of climate resilience, from sustainable agriculture practices to flood risk management. It is also fundamental in operationalizing strategies to address the overlapping challenges created by the climate crisis in conflict-affected countries.

1. Improving carbon markets through capacity building

Carbon markets, a vital element of the global climate strategy, are set to feature prominently at COP 29. Without proper education, the potential for carbon markets to drive emissions reductions while ensuring a just transition can be compromised. Climate education plays a pivotal role in explaining how carbon markets operate and how different stakeholders-governments, businesses, and civil society-can benefit from them. It fosters a deeper understanding of market-based solutions to climate change, including cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsets.

1. Youth action and climate education

The recently adopted Pact for the Future recognizes the importance of including future generations in all multilateral forums, and COP 29 will be no different. By equipping young leaders with the knowledge and tools they need, education can ensure that youth engagement translates into actionable solutions. Capacity-building programmes are a fundamental pillar to foster meaningful youth's participation that translates into policies that are youth-responsive and to prepare all stakeholders to make the most out of more inclusive processes.

Acquiring cutting-edge skills will be imperative to push for this broader system's change and simultaneously unlock progress in all these climate-related areas. While this mission can be daunting, some interesting tools have been put forward to contribute to this task. For example, the Quintet of Change (UN 2.0), which includes data, digital, behavioural science, innovation, and foresight, can bolster climate action and propel global efforts forward. Let's reflect about it for a moment.

'Where to start? fundamental skillsets to drive climate action'

To meet the challenges of climate change, it is crucial to leverage modern tools and innovative approaches. The Pact for the Future emphasizes the need for the UN to strengthen UN 2.0 skills-data, digital technologies, behavioural science, innovation, and foresight-to drive progress on sustainable development and climate action.

• Data: Accurate and reliable data is essential for informed decision-making. Climate education that incorporates data literacy enables individuals and governments to better understand climate models, assess risks, and track progress toward climate goals.
• Digital technologies: Digital tools like artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, and big data analytics can revolutionize climate action. Climate education must prepare students and professionals to harness these technologies for monitoring deforestation, tracking emissions, and predicting extreme weather events.
• Behavioural science: Changing behaviour at the individual and collective level is key to mitigating climate change. Behavioural science offers insights into how people make decisions about energy consumption, transportation, and waste management. Educational programs that integrate these concepts can promote sustainable habits.
• Innovation: Encouraging innovation is essential for developing new solutions to climate challenges. Climate education can foster a culture of innovation, empowering students and researchers to design technologies like carbon capture systems and renewable energy solutions.
• Foresight: Planning for the future is crucial in a world where climate change presents unprecedented risks. Foresight skills help policymakers and businesses anticipate future climate scenarios and develop strategies to navigate them. Climate education that teaches foresight can help leaders make more informed, long-term decisions that adequately respond to climate considerations.

More than ever, governments, civil society and the private sector should think strategically about their capacity-building needs and policies. To enhance capacity-building for climate action, UNSSC different divisions, the Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development (KCSD), the Knowledge Centre for Leadership and Management (KCLM), and the Peace & Security Hub have come together to design and deliver learning products and services that put our partners at the forefront of climate action. As reiterated by the Deputy Director of UNSSC, Silke Weinlich, Learning and Knowledge Services, "the importance of climate education cannot be overstated. By creating expertly tailored learning offerings, UNSSC supports partners in creating meaningful climate policies and initiatives ensuring climate-resilient development".

At KCSD, our core mandate is to build capacities for climate action and sustainable development, we offer various online, face-to-face and blended programmes that foster learning for climate action.

Learn more about our climate-related programmes here: https://www.unssc.org/unssc-commits-education-climate-action

If you are interested in a tailor-made solution, contact us: [email protected]

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