Climate Science Literacy Workshop: Climate Change Knowledge in Local Languages

For Nepal, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries due to a unique combination of geographic, hydrological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, along with systemic challenges, climate literacy is more than a necessity; it's an urgent call to action.

Despite numerous studies on the impacts of climate change in the country, challenges such as limited resources, language barriers, and a lack of accessible educational materials hinder efforts to promote climate literacy, especially at the community level. Often, these studies and research are full of scientific jargon and data that are incomprehensible to the public. Therefore, making scientific knowledge accessible in local languages and simplistic terms is crucial.

To further this effort of making climate science more accessible, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Climate Action Campaign Network (CACN), organized a three-day workshop on "Strengthening Climate Literacy through Local Languages" in Chitwan from April 9 to 11, 2024.

The workshop convened 70 participants representing local government, schoolteachers, youth, and media personnel from the Chitwan District. During the workshop, the participants discussed the fundamentals of climate science and its effects on the environment, their livelihood, and Sustainable Development Goals. The knowledge and skills shared during the workshop aimed at encouraging the participants to act against climate change. The workshop highlighted the significance of climate change literacy in amplifying the knowledge of climate change adaptation at personal, community, and government levels.

The workshop provided more than just lectures and presentations. It was a platform for the local youth and media personnel to engage in meaningful discourses and discussions on gaps in climate change reporting, challenges in accessing climate-related information, and effective mitigation strategies. Using a classroom model for interactive learning, the workshop allowed participants to share their knowledge of climate change, the challenges they face, and possible solutions.

To measure the workshop's impact, pre- and post-surveys assessed participants' climate science knowledge and understanding of the SDGs, enabling progress tracking and identifying areas for improvement. The pre-assessment survey showed that the majority of the participants had never received training related to climate change, which was reflected in their responses to survey. Post-workshop, survey results indicated a dramatic improvement in participant understanding. Over 70% of respondents could accurately distinguish between weather and climate change, acknowledged human contributions to climate change, and identified technological innovation, electric technology, and renewable energy as potential solutions. This shows a significant shift in understanding and priorities regarding climate change and its solutions after the training sessions.

One of the major highlights of the workshop was the distribution of climate literacy posters among the participants. These posters, now available in Nepali, were developed by the United Nations in Asia-Pacific jointly with UNESCO and other partner agencies to address and advance climate literacy. Translated into multiple languages globally, the posters aim to educate the public on climate change and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the end of the workshop, the participants left with more than just new knowledge and skills-they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and the tools to make a tangible difference in their communities through their efforts at personal, professional, and community levels.

Through initiatives like this, Nepal is taking steps to empower its communities with climate literacy, overcoming language barriers towards a more inclusive approach to climate action. UNESCO remains committed to supporting this process to mitigate and adapt to climate change, to educate for sustainable development in the context of climate change, to assess the risks of natural disasters due to climate change, and to monitor the effects of climate change.