By Andrea Bergamaschi, Liora Schwartz y María Soledad Bos
Education is key to building a sustainable future! Discover how #GreenCitizenship empowers young people to protect biodiversity and fight climate change.
Every day, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) faces the growing impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, from endangered species and polluted oceans to deforestation to natural disasters. Hurricanes batter the Caribbean, severe droughts challenge in Colombia and catastrophic floods disrupt life in Brazil. These events don’t just affect ecosystems; they disrupt communities, economies, and access to basic services like education. In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, over 173,000 students were left without access to schools due to extreme weather, with no clear return date.
While future generations will inevitably face the consequences of today´s environmental challenges, they can already be part of the solution. Education can empower them to become agents of change and advocates for biodiversity.
Green citizenship refers to a set of values and skills that individuals, especially children and young people, can develop to become environmental agents of change. It is built on a range of competences to empower individuals to act in favor of sustainability and environmental conservation and can be developed through education.
Education systems can help future citizens lead greener lifestyles, and contribute to building sustainable, resilient societies by adopting curricula that develops:
- Knowledge:
Equipping students with up-to-date scientific information about biodiversity, climate change and the environment is essential. This will enable them to make evidence-based decisions, evaluate strategies for sustainability, and understand the trade-offs between different climate resilience options. Through knowledge, they will be better equipped to thrive on a changing planet.
- Values:
Beyond knowledge, education must foster values that encourage respect for nature and biodiversity. By connecting these values to the student’s specific contexts, they can develop a deeper connection to the environment and understand how local actions can create a global impact. These values drive environmentally responsible behaviors.
- Capacity for Action:
Students need transversal skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, and communication to translate knowledge and values into meaningful action,. These skills empower students to act, both individually and collectively, as green citizens within their communities and beyond.
How the Inter-American Development Bank Promotes Green Citizenship in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is at the forefront of initiatives that embed green citizenship skills into education systems across LAC. Through partnerships with governments, we are supporting policies and programs to provide students with the tools they need to shape a sustainable future. Some of the main projects supported by the Bank are:
Green Minds- An Open Call to Identify Green Citizenship Initiatives
Green Minds is a call organized by the IDB in collaboration with Socialab, aimed at recognizing outstanding educational programs and sustainable, resilient school infrastructure that foster the development of green citizenship among school-aged children. This initiative seeks to identify innovative experiences in three categories:
(i) curricular programs
(ii) extracurricular programs, and
(iii) sustainable and resilient interventions in school buildings and facilities.
The call is open for submissions until November 18, 2024. If your school or community is taking bold steps towards sustainability, apply to the Green Minds Challenge to showcase your efforts!
Brazil – Forest Schools in the Amazon:
In the Amazonas State, the IDB financed the development of a pedagogical model and teacher training aimed at the integral development of green citizenship in forest schools. These schools educate students about the environment, biodiversity, and climate change while emphasizing the value of the local ecosystem and biodiversity for socioeconomic development. The goal is to train future leaders equipped to take individual and collective action in favor of the environment.
Photos: @SeducEuzivaldoQueiroz
Barbados – Reforming Education for Climate Goals
In Barbados, the Bank has partnered with the government to strengthen its education system and develop the skills needed for the country to implement its sustainable and resilient economic development plan and reach its climate goals. The initiative includes reforming the curriculum to cover climate change, the blue and green economy, and sustainable agricultural sciences. The project involves updating standards, training teachers, developing new materials, and creating mechanisms for continuous curriculum improvement.
The Role of Knowledge in Shaping Policy
In addition to direct support for countries, the IDB’s knowledge generation is a critical tool for informing regional policy. Publications like “Education and Climate Change: How to Develop Skills for Climate Action at School Age.” provide valuable insights on how education can integrate climate change topics to develop critical skills. This research underpins the argument for stronger climate education in national curricula, further highlighting the role of education as a driving force in the climate change agenda. By ensuring that young people acquire the skills for climate action, policymakers can better prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle climate change challenges.
Call to action
As the world confronts growing environmental challenges, education remains one of the most powerful tools for creating green citizens. Fostering green citizenship through education is vital to building a sustainable and resilient future for LAC. By developing knowledge, values, and the capacity for action in students, these initiatives are preparing the region’s youth to lead the adaptation to climate change and to create greener, more equitable societies.
Do you know any outstanding educational programs that foster the development of green citizenship? Leave us a comment, share this blog to spread the word about Green Citizenship and apply to the Green Minds Challenge
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