Carrying COP30 Belém forward: lasting climate action begins in education
Education gained visibility and relevance at COP30 in Belém.
© OCE
At Belém COP30, the Office for Climate Education (OCE) and Siemens Stiftung showcased best practices on climate change education, sharing insights on effectiveness and replicability across regions from Latin America to Africa. Together with partners they presented concrete perspectives on how to unlock the transformative power of climate change education – building on the momentum created during this year’s New York Climate Week.
A key issue highlighted was the persistent funding deficit for education within climate policy, which accounts for only 1,5% of global climate finance according to the World Bank (2022). One proposed way to close this gap is to explicitly include education in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement to open new and sustainable funding streams.
Belém witnessed progress on multiple fronts. Education gained visibility and relevance within the UN process, supported by initiatives such as the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) agenda and the Greening Education Partnership (GEP). Not only has climate change education garnered more recognition but also it has translated into tangible outcomes. At Bélem a total of 78% of parties reported including education measures in their National Action Plans, a significant increase from 55% in previous NDCs.
Growing global commitment: From awareness to implementation
In 2026, Siemens Stiftung and OCE will work to convert this awareness into concrete education policies: The efforts will include curriculum adaptation, teacher training, and support for local projects across regions from Latin America to Africa. They will also continue to share best practices with a focus on:
- Co-creating Open Educational Resources (OER) rooted in local realities
Working alongside teachers, students, and communities to develop contextualized, adaptable and free OER allows for cost-effective and broader implementation. - High-quality and contextualized teacher training ensures that educators can confidently navigate the complexities of climate change and impart lessons to their pupils. Our programs build communities of practice and research to support capacity building efforts.
- Supporting co-financing models: Bringing together climate, education, and development donors to scale integrated CCE programs
- Building cross-sectoral alliances: Local, regional and international actors who collaborate long term to collectively advocate for curriculum adaptation and integration of climate change education into education policies
“Teachers and students are not mere spectators of transition but its co-creators and changemakers!”
Watch Dr. Nina Smidt’s opening remarks in the COP30 session “Powering Net Zero: The Case for Climate Education“.
Let’s stay in touch in 2026!
Only together can we unlock the transformative potential of climate change education for even more teachers, students, and classrooms worldwide. Let’s build partnerships that close gaps in global education systems and expand access to evidence-based climate change education.
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ARRICE is the Africa Regional Resilience Initiative on Climate Education, coordinated by the Office of Climate Education, Siemens Stiftung and other partners. Stay connected with the ARRICE quarterly newsletter to receive updates on climate change education across Africa.
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