Climate change is one of the greatest threats to sustainable development. The ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1998. Sea levels are rising, and ever more frequent natural disasters, such as cyclones and tropical storms, are threatening people’s homes and livelihoods. Tackling climate change requires action at all levels of society, from individuals and educators to policymakers and businesses. By fostering awareness, capacity building and innovation, climate change learning helps communities and individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively adapt to the changing climate. In the past years, several EU wide networks and associations have launched topic-related working groups, such as for example the European Network Association. More information and learning materials about climate have been published, which help learners understand the causes and consequences of climate change and empower them to take appropriate actions to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Several websites provide information in order to become a climate-literate person who ● understands the essential principles of Earth’s climate system, ● knows how to assess scientifically credible information about climate, ● communicates about climate and climate change in a meaningful way, and ● is able to make informed and responsible decisions with regard to actions that may affect climate. However, most of these portals require a reader not only with high motivation, but also with at least medium or higher education. They do not take into account the reading level of a big part of the population. To these people we must count an increasing number of people with migration background ERASMUS+ Programme - Call for Proposals 2021 Project Application Information Page 2 and refugees with low command of the language of their host country. Also, most of them come from cultures where until recently environmental thinking and aspects of sustainability have not existed. It is therefore the objective of this partnership to include this considerable percentage of the population and to produce materials which inform - in adequate simple language! - about the current state of climate change and which give practical suggestions to individual actions which are urgent and necessary to mitigate climate change. We will prepare these complex topics in such a way that people with low educational levels or from non-European cultures can understand them. In doing so, we not only impart knowledge, but we also promote the fun of learning. With our materials, they will be able to understand and address the impact of global warming, will become “climate literate” and will eventually be empowered to adopt sustainable lifestyles. In order to reach these target groups, most products will be available not only in the languages of the partnership (..........),but also in Arabic and Pashtun (the two most common languages of people who come as refugees in 2015 and thereafter) and in Turkish, which is predominantly spoken by seven per cent of multi-person households with a migration background. To offer climate education in these languages is even more important in order to reach women who are not working and usually are less fluent in the language of the host country. These materials will be made available at an interactive e-platform and as mobile apps for smartphones. Parts will also be available as podcasts or can be activated by smart-home voice assistants such as Alexa or Siri. All products will remain accessible at least five years after the end of the project, i.e. until 2027. The final beneficiaries of our project are young people and citizens with low educational levels, refugees and migrants. However, the project will also address adult and vocational education trainers, teachers and other “front liners” who will receive didactic support how to raise awareness about environment and climate-change challenges among vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, and how to develop competences and green skills strategies that better meet the needs of this target groups. Our Educators’ Handbook will support them with interesting and feasible approaches which enable, through education and training, behavioural changes for individual preferences, consumption habits, and lifestyles.
Main project products:
1. Curriculum for trainers in adult education
2. Resource Pack (training materials)
3. Interactive platform
4. Mobile application
5. Handbook