Education Must Be Central to Climate Action, Global Leaders Urged Ahead of COP30
NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2025 , Members of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub), including Education Cannot Wait (ECW), are urging world leaders to make education a key part of climate discussions at the upcoming COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil.
The climate crisis is deeply affecting children and youth, especially those most vulnerable. In 2024, climate-related events disrupted the learning of over 242 million students from pre-primary to upper secondary levels. Heatwaves alone affected more than 118 million children in May 2024.
Climate Change Threatens Learning and Equality
Climate-induced disasters damage schools, harm teachers’ well-being, and raise dropout risks. They also increase protection concerns for children. Moreover, climate change worsens existing inequalities related to gender, ethnicity, disability, and displacement. It fuels other crises—such as conflict, health issues, and early marriage—that further block access to education.
Despite these challenges, education remains largely absent from climate policy and finance. From 2006 to 2023, only 2.4% of key multilateral climate funding supported projects with child-responsive goals. Fewer than half of countries’ climate strategies met standards for being child-sensitive.
Investing in Education for a Resilient Future
Education is a powerful tool against the climate crisis. Climate-responsive schools can ensure learning continuity and help students develop skills for resilience. Every USD 1 invested in education boosts a nation’s GDP by about USD 20—a clear return for society.
Without urgent action, millions more children may lose their chance to learn, risking economic instability and social inequality for generations to come.
