Currently responsible for around 75 per cent of global CO2 emissions, cities – and in particular the transport systems and office buildings – play a pivotal role in the world’s response to the climate crisis. In addition to being central to the transformation to inclusive and green economies, cities are also at the forefront of efforts to empower local communities with the knowledge and skills that are needed to break long-established patterns of unsustainable consumption, production and mobility. UNESCO learning cities, with their strong expertise in lifelong learning, are uniquely positioned to instil climate consciousness and equip local residents with the green skills essential for a sustainable society.
This webinar will focus on the promotion of green and healthy urban environments through lifelong learning. The disruptive impact of climate change evident in urban and rural areas around the world, where people are witnessing potent floods, intense heatwaves and severe droughts. In this context, climate risks are ultimately health risks, necessitating holistic solutions that promote both lifelong learning for health and climate action.
During this webinar, participants will reflect on the linkages between lifelong learning for climate action and health at the local level. Accounting for the health risks that extreme weather events present, the session will delve into how climate resilience can be built in learning cities, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups and those inhabiting informal settlements.
About the webinar series
Leading up to the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC 6) themed 'Learning cities at the forefront of climate action,' the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) hosts the webinar series ‘Building green, inclusive and climate-resilient urban communities – the learning cities approach’.
The webinars will explore a variety of topics related to learning city development, with a particular emphasis on how the climate crisis affects local communities. Special attention will be given to examining the connections between the climate emergency and other thematic areas of focus within the global network, including lifelong learning for health and global citizenship education. The primary goal of the webinars is to facilitate exchange and peer-learning among GNLC members. Summaries of the sessions will subsequently be compiled to inform a background document for ICLC 6.