Youth worldwide call for better climate education in the lead up to COP28
[World, Aug. 12, 2023] - 250+ young people from over 80 countries are coming together on August 12th & 13th for a two-day virtual summit to call on their Education Ministers to take more action for climate education, and to produce the world’s first unified youth definition for climate education and set of asks for education ministries.
Mock COP, a youth-led campaign calling for world leaders to take meaningful climate action, are organising the Mock Education Ministers Summit (Mock EMS) which starts today, International Youth Day, and one month before world leaders gather for the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Ahead of the summit, delegates submitted country statements on climate education, and over the weekend they will come together to hear from high-level speakers such as Xiye Bastida, join panel discussions and negotiate. This will culminate in the production of a unified statement from the youth delegates on climate education; which will include a specific youth definition of quality climate education, metrics for measuring it and clear calls to action for Governments. Mock COP will present this - the first statement of its kind - at COP28.
Climate Education is a major concern for young people globally, and a key priority for youth campaigners at Mock COP: “The limited climate education in schools is focusing on the problems and ignores the solutions, leaving young people, like me, unprepared to face the effects of the climate crisis. We need to urgently change this. As youth, our voices often go unheard in decisions that shape our future but we are calling for Education Ministers to step-up and to make ambitious commitments for quality solution-focused climate education ahead of COP28.” - David Okenwa, Campaign Coordinator, Nigeria, aged 23
At COP26, over 20 countries pledged to improve climate education. Yet, youth of Mock COP believe there has been limited change in their classrooms and that climate education is still inadequate. The campaign wants climate education to be mandatory, assessed and integrated in all subjects for all ages and wants governments to be discussing this at COP. A study by UNESCO states, “among 100 countries, only 53% of the world’s national education curricula make any reference to climate change and when the subject is mentioned, it is almost always given very low priority.”
The Mock COP campaign are building on the success of the 1st ever Education and Environment Ministers summit at COP26, which they were the youth partner for. They are aiming for more ambitious and substantial commitments to climate education at COP28. Mock COP and Mock EMS steering committee will support delegate youth leaders to go further too in advocating for their asks with national politicians, providing training and building their capacity and knowledge.
The ultimate goal is to improve climate education globally, ensuring young people are aware of the climate crisis and can implement vital solutions.
"Our Mock EMS is organized by the youth and for the youth. We urgently need comprehensive and up-to-date climate education that enables young people to dismantle the existing unfair system so that we can get rid of climate and other socio-economic crises all at the same time,” said Shreya K.C., Campaign Coordinator of Mock COP, aged 25
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For media inquiries, please contact: rosie.latchford@sos-uk.org
About Mock COP: Mock COP is an international, youth-led organisation aiming to amplify young people's voices at the highest levels of decision-making on the climate crisis.
Know more about Mock COP: https://www.mockcop.org/
We can provide spokespeople from the campaign.
Twitter: @Mock_COP #ClimateEducation #YouthVoices #MockEMS #MockCOP
Instagram: @mockcop
Previous press coverage on Mock COP: BBC; The Guardian and The Ecologist
WE ARE READY TO
Raise ambition for climate education