Ei-iE

Markus Spiske / Unsplash
Markus Spiske / Unsplash

Climate action and literacy

The world is undeniably facing a climate emergency. As defenders of truth and science, teachers are mobilising for climate justice and literacy.

We are working to ensure climate change education is taught in schools across the world to equip students with the critical knowledge they need in their daily lives and to inform their choices as active citizens. We advocate for climate education to be integrated into curricula, initial teacher training and continuous professional development and for education to be recognised as a key tool in the fight against climate change.

Together with students, with the global trade union movement and civil society partners, we advocate for a just transition in order to secure workers’ rights and livelihoods as economies shift to sustainable production.

Our work in this area

  1. News 28 April 2025

    Education International Asia-Pacific launches calls for quality climate education for all and demands increased funding for education

    Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) is organising a series of impactful activities from 28 April to 3 May 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal calling for quality climate education for all and urging governments to increase public investment in education and teachers.

    Education International Asia-Pacific launches calls for quality climate education for all and demands increased funding for education
  2. Worlds of Education 24 April 2025

    Teachers at the heart of climate justice: Addressing the crisis in Philippine schools

    Ruby Bernardo

    “These are not new problems; they are the result of decades of neglect in the education sector, now magnified by the escalating climate crisis. If we continue to ignore these urgent issues, our schools will remain not just ill-equipped for learning, but hazardous places for both students and teachers.”

    Teachers at the heart of climate justice: Addressing the crisis in Philippine schools
  3. Worlds of Education 21 April 2025

    A vision for greener schools: How unions are leading the charge for climate justice in the United States

    Adrienne Coles

    Climate change is a pressing global issue, yet achieving international consensus on enforceable action remains a significant challenge. In the United States, climate policy is often dictated by the political party in power at the federal level, leading to inconsistent progress. Given the current political landscape, substantial federal action on...

    A vision for greener schools: How unions are leading the charge for climate justice in the United States
  4. Take action! 17 April 2025

    Earth Day 2025

    Communications toolkit

    This Earth Day, join the global mobilisation for quality climate education for all, for climate justice, and a just transition to a green economy that guarantees human rights and inclusive participation.

    Earth Day 2025
  5. News 21 February 2025

    Mexico: Caring for water, like education, is everyone's task

    In a country where water scarcity is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (National Union of Education Workers-SNTE) has taken a proactive stance. The union's campaign, ¡El agua es vida, el agua se agota! (Water is life, Water runs out!), launched in 2024,...

    Mexico: Caring for water, like education, is everyone's task
  6. Worlds of Education 29 November 2024

    Education voices | Lessons from the devastating floods in Valencia and an urgent call to Teach for the Planet

    Marc Candela

    The torrential rains and devastating floods that hit parts of Spain in October 2024, affecting more than 100 municipalities in the province of Valencia, are yet further evidence of the undeniable impact of climate change on our societies.

    Education voices | Lessons from the devastating floods in Valencia and an urgent call to Teach for the Planet
  7. News 21 November 2024

    COP29: Education unions demand urgent action for climate education and a just transition

    The Education International Executive Board issued a strong call for urgent and decisive climate action in a statement to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). Stressing that widespread school disruptions caused by the climate crisis put students’ right to education and teachers’ labour rights at risk,...

    COP29: Education unions demand urgent action for climate education and a just transition
  8. Statements 21 November 2024

    Climate justice, climate education, and resilient education systems for all without delay

    Education International Statement to COP 29

    Education International is the voice and force of education and part of the international trade union movement. Education International represents over 33 million teachers and education support personnel through over 375 education unions.

    Climate justice, climate education, and resilient education systems for all without delay
  9. News 16 October 2024

    New international tool supports educators in their fight against climate change

    As part of the work of the Education International (EI) Climate Network, education unionists from all over the world were consulted and gave inputs about the Greening Education Partnership , a new tool developed to support ministries of education to build climate-responsive education systems that centre teacher experience and aim...

    New international tool supports educators in their fight against climate change
  10. News 1 August 2024

    Education unions redouble efforts to ensure quality climate education and a just transition for all

    Educators around the world are standing up for the planet and for their students. The Teach for the Planet campaign was in the spotlight at Education International’s 10th World Congress taking place in Buenos Aires from 26 July to 2 August. Education unionists met to exchange best practices on climate...

    Education unions redouble efforts to ensure quality climate education and a just transition for all
  11. News 21 May 2024

    Tonga: Empowering educators for sustainable development and human rights

    The Friendly Islands Teachers’ Association (FITA) is leading a transformative effort to empower educators and promote sustainable development within Tonga's education sector. In March 2024, FITA, conducted two pivotal workshops focusing on climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), trade union rights, and human rights.

    Tonga: Empowering educators for sustainable development and human rights
  12. News 13 May 2024

    Brazil: Teachers and educational centres in Rio Grande do Sul affected by floods

    The State of Rio Grande do Sul is underwater. According to the latest reports published by the state’s Civil Defence, as of 12 noon on Wednesday (the 8th of May), 417 of the 497 municipalities in the area reported issues due to the floods of recent days. A total of...

    Brazil: Teachers and educational centres in Rio Grande do Sul affected by floods
  13. News 25 April 2024

    Education International Climate Network: Towards a pedagogy of hope for people and planet

    On April 22 Education International’s Climate Network came together to celebrate Earth Day with an insightful discussion on the reform necessary to foster a pedagogy of hope and quality climate change education in classrooms everywhere. Education unionists were joined by three inspiring activists who are leading the youth movement for...

    Education International Climate Network: Towards a pedagogy of hope for people and planet
  14. Worlds of Education 8 December 2023

    Fossil fuel subsidies and educational performance

    Zeynep Clulow

    Around the world, companies, NGOs, policymakers, academics and national publics are increasingly calling on governments to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies (FS) - measures that support the consumption and production of natural gas, coal and oil – as a vital step for combatting climate change and building a more just and...

    Fossil fuel subsidies and educational performance
  15. Worlds of Education 4 December 2023

    Towards a Just Transition in Education: A Strategic Guide on Fossil Fuel Divestment for Education Unions

    Alanah Torralba

    Every year, despite recording ‘hottest ever’ temperatures, the world consumes more fossil fuels than ever before. Consequently, climate disasters also continue to rise in frequency and intensity. In 2022, for instance, a third of Pakistan’s land mass was under water for several months following record monsoon rains and melting glaciers...

    Towards a Just Transition in Education: A Strategic Guide on Fossil Fuel Divestment for Education Unions
  16. Publications

    Towards a Just Transition in Education: A Strategic Guide on Fossil Fuel Divestment for Education Unions

    Alanah Torralba
    22 November 2023

    Amidst intensifying climate change impacts, demanding the phaseout of fossil fuels and the acceleration of a just and rapid transition into a low-carbon economy are urgent political tasks. For educators and their unions, a critical step is consolidating a fossil fuel divestment campaign that targets not just the disentanglement of...

    Towards a Just Transition in Education: A Strategic Guide on Fossil Fuel Divestment for Education Unions
    1. Download
  17. Research

    Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Briefing for Education Unions

    Zeynep Clulow
    22 November 2023

    This policy brief explores the fossil fuels-education relationship by combining the most comprehensive recent data on fossil fuels from the IMF fossil fuel database with educational performance and potential confounding factors from the World Bank World Development Indicators databases, resulting in a dataset of 1651 observations after omitting country-years with...

    Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Briefing for Education Unions
    1. Summary
    2. Report