Ines Kolsi

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 9-25-2025

Abstract

Despite the growing climate crisis, many national education systems, especially in the Global South, still treat climate change as a marginal topic. This gap hinders young people’s ability to understand, adapt to, and address environmental challenges. Grounded in the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) framework under the UNFCCC, this paper examines climate education reforms in Italy and Kenya and critically analyzes existing frameworks. It argues that effective climate education requires more than guidance: it needs binding commitments, institutional mandates, and legal backing. Key recommendations include embedding climate education in national laws and curricula, integrating ACE priorities into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and education sector plans, mandating inter-ministerial coordination, requiring climate training in teacher certification, and establishing monitoring systems. The paper also stresses the importance of inclusive, localized approaches tailored to rural, Indigenous, and vulnerable communities, as well as fiscal incentives like tax breaks to promote private sector support. Implementing these measures can make climate education a central priority, empowering learners with the knowledge and skills to build just, resilient, and low-carbon societies.

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