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 lifelong learning strategies for climate action which typically include several key ingredients: a cohesive, inclusive vision; multi-stakeholder input; and well-defined, feasible steps, among others. To ensure a sustainable approach, it is important to create synergies between a given local strategy and national or international policies that aim to support lifelong learning for climate action. Mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the advancement of established strategies are also key.
In this webinar, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning will present its online collection, ‘Lifelong learning for climate action at a local level’. Learning cities whose efforts are featured in this collection will be invited to present their local strategies along with their flagship projects to promote green communities through lifelong learning. The session will also consider the broader relevance of local climate action laws, policies and commitments.
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.