Climate Action Education Takes Flight: Thousands Inspired at Global Event, Highlighting Its Critical Role in Tackling the Climate Crisis
Clearwater, FL – November 12, 2024 – As world leaders gather for COP29 in Baku and the UN and UNESCO reiterate the urgency of climate action, a powerful message of hope and action emerged yesterday from a global group of over 5,300,000 students and educators participating in the Climate Action Project that were celebrated last week on November 7 at Climate Action Day (https://climateactionday.net/).
Take Action Global (TAG) has been working on climate education since 2017 and now has released its first report showing the impact of climate education. In this report, TAG combined data of over 5,300,000 participants in Climate Action Project (www.climateactionproject.org) across over 170 countries, and a unique algorithm which keeps track of the amounts of carbon avoided–which is made available through their free app, EarthProject. The report was showcased during Climate Action Day in the presence of Whoopi Goldberg, Shailene Woodley, President Mary Robinson, astronaut Nicole Stott, and many more.
Why Climate Action Education Matters:
The report shows that Climate education plays an important role to slow down climate change and that the cost is cheaper than other climate mitigation and adaptation technologies.
- 5.3 million students across 170+ countries learned about climate change which is the first step in changing mindsets and behavior
- 610 actions have been taken by changemakers
- 2,346,695 trees planted by students
- 65,707,460 kg of carbon reduced through tree plantings
- 64,800,960 kg of carbon reduced through using the EarthProject app
Climate education is not limited to classroom walls. 77% of students involved in the survey claimed that they talked to students about what they learned. 74.3% talked to parents and claimed they were able to bring change to lifestyle at home.
This global exchange resonated with students and educators worldwide. As a student in Tunisia shared, “The Climate Action Project has given us the wings to fly from local to global.” An educator also mentioned that “we have a great future ahead with these projects [with Take Action Global].”
Additional data from TAG’s Climate Action Project (CAP) reveals a significant impact on student engagement with environmental issues.
- After participating in CAP, students demonstrated a 23% increase in using alternative transportation, a 125% increase in joining environmental clubs, and a 186% increase in using the EarthProject App to track their environmental impact (www.earthproject.org).
These findings reinforce the growing consensus that climate action education is not just important, it’s making a real difference.
Global Event Ignites Inspiration:
Climate Action Day, attended by 9,000+ students globally, offered a platform for diverse voices to share their perspectives and inspire action. This year’s event, headlined by acclaimed actress Whoopi Goldberg, underscored the critical role of climate action education in empowering a generation to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
- Whoopi Goldberg said “It is not easy encouraging students to share their stories & their belief in the power of their ideas. It is really beautiful that you all are coming together & figuring out what we can do; we all play a part.”
- Poet Awa Ndiaye emphasized the importance of hope and change, urging participants to be “carriers of hope.”
- Filmmaker Xin Xue highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting the irony of human struggle while creating artificial intelligence.
- NASA scientists Rick Davis, Ave Kludze, and Christina Cannon highlighted the role of space exploration in understanding and addressing climate change.
- Astronaut and artist Nicole Stott drew a powerful analogy between the International Space Station and Earth, emphasizing the need for global collaboration.
Key Takeaways from Climate Action Day:
- The Power of Connection and Communication: President Mary Robinson emphasized the importance of “radical connection and communication” to drive climate action.
- Indigenous Wisdom and Climate Solutions: Princess Esmeralda of Belgium highlighted the invaluable knowledge held by indigenous communities and the need for knowledge sharing and action.
- Accurate Climate Communication: Journalists Katherine M. Niemczyk and Jeff Berardelli stressed the importance of accurate and effective climate communication to inform the public and drive change.
- The Role of Love and Hope: Actress Shailene Woodley emphasized the power of love and hope in addressing climate challenges, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings.
- The Importance of Effective Communication: Climate scientists Priyadarshani Joshi and Vivek Venkatram emphasized the need for new communication techniques to address climate change effectively.
Climate Action Education: A Global Imperative:
Climate Action Day coincides with a growing international focus on climate education.
- The recent UNEP report emphasizes the critical role of education in addressing the climate crisis.
- The UN and UNESCO advocate for integrating climate change education into national curriculums.
TAG: Leading the Way in Climate Action Education:
Take Action Global (TAG) (www.takeactionglobal.org) is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people to become environmental leaders. Through innovative programs like the Climate Action Project (CAP), TAG is the first organization globally to track students’ direct climate impact through the EarthProject App.
To learn more about Take Action Global and the Climate Action Project, please visit:
- Take Action Global: www.takeactionglobal.org
Climate Action Project: www.climateactionproject.org