Education for Climate Action: Integrating education into Nationally Determined Contributions

This document sets out to support Ministries of Education and education sector partners to effectively engage in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) processes by providing:

• Common guidance and education messaging to highlight what could be included in NDCs and why
• Entry points to identify where to include education in NDCs
• Step by step processes to demonstrate how to include education in NDCs, both those already being updated and nearing completion, and those starting from the beginning.

Despite being recognized in articles of agreements formulated in climate negotiations since 1992, education has been a neglected sector in the conceptualization of climate strategies. Ministries of Education have often faced challenges in ensuring that linkages with education are made in national climate policies, and efforts over the past decade to enshrine education in national climate commitments have been limited.

Including education in NDCs is important to:

• Meet international climate finance requirements for national prioritization, thereby improving opportunities to secure climate finance towards education
• Secure additional support, resources, capacity and finance from other sources for education
• Guide national implementation of climate-smart education
• Raise the profile and importance of education in climate action

It is every child’s right to learn in a safe and resilient environment and gain the knowledge and skills they need to adapt to climate-induced shocks and stresses, take climate and pro-environmental action, acquire jobs in the green economy and become leaders for climate justice. If these areas are included in NDCs, they are more likely to receive support from other ministries, sectors and international organizations, and align climate finance and action around key priorities.