Dubai Cares releases 'Rewiring Education: The Climate Education Nexus' report

emirates7 - Dubai Cares, a civil society organization affiliated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC), has launched its latest report titled “Rewiring Education: The Climate Education Nexus.” This report emphasizes the essential integration of education and climate action, resulting from two years of extensive discussions at the RewirEd Summit 2023 during COP28 UAE and beyond, gathering insights from various stakeholders in the education and climate sectors.

Released during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week, the report builds on the outcomes of the first RewirEd Summit report, "Rewiring Education for People and Planet," introduced at the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in New York in 2022. The inaugural report presented six "win-win" solutions aimed at harmonizing actions across sectors. The new report deepens this focus by highlighting the crucial role of educational transformation in climate action from an ecosystem perspective and advocating for cross-sector collaboration to achieve solutions beneficial to both people and the planet.

Central to the report is the understanding that climate action and educational reform must be addressed together. The climate-education nexus presents significant potential for systemic change to address global challenges, yet it remains underutilized. The report stresses that collaboration between these sectors can help achieve individual goals and a much larger impact when combined. It offers a strategic framework for integrating education and climate initiatives and provides actionable recommendations, calling for collaboration across sectors to meet both educational and environmental objectives.

Charles North, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), noted at the RewirEd Summit 2023 that governments worldwide are seeking guidance on how to begin and what works. This report aims to assist not only governments but also policymakers, civil society, academia, educators, practitioners, youth, and the private sector in navigating the complexities of integrating education and climate action, offering practical solutions for effective strategy design.

Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, remarked, “Throughout history, humanity has faced and overcome monumental challenges, and today, climate change is the defining crisis of our time. Education is crucial to addressing this challenge. Progress on global issues—whether poverty, health, or climate change—requires a fundamental transformation of education systems. The ‘Rewiring Education: The Climate Education Nexus’ report provides a clear, actionable framework for embedding education in the climate agenda while ensuring that climate solutions are integrated into educational systems.”

He added, “This report serves as a powerful call to action for all stakeholders, urging them to prioritize educational transformation within climate solutions. As we approach COP29, I urge global leaders to focus on education in their climate discussions and to consider the vital recommendations in this report. Now is the time to act, ensuring everyone has the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for a prosperous and sustainable future.”

The RewirEd Summit 2023 at COP28 UAE marked the first global education gathering focused on climate, attracting over 1,000 participants, including two heads of state, 22 ministers, and 28 CEOs, along with 260 speakers from 209 entities and 76 countries.