Policy Brief No. 27 of 2023-2024 on Greening Education for Accelerated Climate Action by African Youth

Abstract

Climate literacy supports the development of learners’ capacities to understand causes and the magnitude of climate change risks, equips them with skills and knowledge for improved climate mitigation and adaptation practices. It enables states and citizens to adequately anticipate, plan, and execute “appropriate and transformative responses” rather than being reactionary victims of the adverse effects of climate change (Simpson and Rosengaertner, 2023). Acquisition of green skills by youth is projected to yield a threefold dividend of accelerating realization of the net zero goal; reducing inequality caused by disproportionate impacts of climate change on different social groups; and giving youth skills that enhance employability particularly in the green economy (UNICEF, PwC, and Generation Unlimited, 2022). Despite the expected benefits and urgency with which the world needs to act, acquisition and levels of green skills remain an ideal in many countries. A survey by UNESCO covering 100 countries showed that only 53 per cent of the national curricula have a focus on climate change and, even then, the topic is given low priority (UNESCO, nd)1 in terms of resource allocation.