A child writting on the board. Photo; Courtesy
A new global platform aimed at strengthening the resilience of education systems to climate change has been launched, as new data shows that nearly every child worldwide is exposed to at least one climate-related shock each year, often disrupting their learning.
The Climate Change and Education Platform, supported by Save the Children, the Green Climate Fund, and the Global Partnership for Education, seeks to address a longstanding gap in global climate action: the limited integration of education into climate policy and financing frameworks.
Education systems are increasingly under strain from climate-related events.
In 2024 alone, climate shocks disrupted schooling for an estimated 242 million children globally, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
From floods and droughts to cyclones and extreme heat, these events are affecting not only school infrastructure but also attendance, learning outcomes, and long-term educational progress.
Education Overlooked in Climate Action
Despite being one of the sectors most affected by climate change, education remains largely overlooked in climate policy and financing.
About one billion children, nearly half of the world’s child population, live in countries facing extremely high climate risks.
At the same time, cyclones alone account for approximately US$4 billion in annual losses to the education sector.
Yet only 1.5% of global climate finance is currently directed toward education, reflecting a major disconnect between identified needs and actual investment.
The newly launched platform aims to bridge this gap by providing tools, data, and guidance to governments, climate funds, development agencies, and civil society organisations.
It also draws attention to a critical bottleneck in accessing climate finance: while nearly 90% of countries identify education as a priority in climate adaptation, fewer than 30% include costed plans in their National Adaptation Plans, limiting their eligibility for funding.
By offering practical guidance on integrating education into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the platform seeks to make education systems more visible and fundable within global climate frameworks.
A Tool for Policymakers and Practitioners
Hosted on weADAPT, a climate knowledge-sharing platform with over 10,000 users across 141 countries, the new hub brings together a wide range of resources
These include a global evidence library, case studies from climate-vulnerable countries, and step-by-step guidance on accessing climate finance.
The platform is positioned as the first global resource hub specifically designed to connect education systems with climate adaptation planning.
It also aims to support stronger collaboration between policymakers, educators, and climate experts working across sectors.
Nick Ireland, Director of Climate Change at Save the Children, emphasised the broader implications of climate disruption on children’s lives.
“Every child deserves a safer and brighter future. When we protect the climate, we protect childhood itself safe homes, healthy bodies, quality education, and hopeful dreams that are not washed away by floods or broken by droughts,” he said.
He added that education must be recognised as a core component of climate resilience.
“Education is critical climate adaptation infrastructure. Countries cannot achieve long-term climate goals without protecting learning and strengthening the ability of young people to navigate an increasingly unstable climate,” Ireland said.
Highlighting the policy gap, he noted: “Half of the world’s children live in countries at high risk of climate impacts. Yet climate plans rarely address education systems. This platform gives climate decision-makers the tools they need to change that.”
Global Relevance Ahead of Climate Talks
The launch comes ahead of key global climate milestones, including preparations for COP31, where adaptation and resilience are expected to feature prominently in negotiations.
Developed under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative, the platform will continue to evolve with new data, tools, and case studies from ongoing projects worldwide.
It also draws on work supported by organisations such as UNESCO and its research arm, helping countries integrate climate considerations into education planning and budgeting.
As climate shocks intensify globally, the platform signals a growing recognition that education is not only a victim of climate change but also a key part of the solution, both in preparing future generations and in strengthening the resilience of communities worldwide.
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