FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—June 8, 2020
#Learn4Climate Campaign Calls for Ambitious Commitment from Nations on People-Centered Climate Action
Coalition Asks Governments to Scale Up Climate Learning and Engagement as Key to Meeting Goals of Paris Agreement
Bonn, 8 June 2020–An ambitious campaign to catalyze higher climate action via dramatically stepped-up, public empowerment was launched today by a coalition of organizations led by the UN Climate Education, Communication and Outreach Stakeholders (ECOS) community during a meeting of the United Nations.
#Learn4Climate is a multi-partner campaign, coordinated by ECOS, that aims to bridge a fundamental gulf between the aim of the landmark Paris Agreement and the realities of the current climate response level on the ground faced by communities across the globe. Together, we are calling for raised ambition and insist that nations follow through on a transformational climate empowerment agenda. We believe that people have the right-to-know, the right-to-act and the ability to influence climate decision-making.
“Rapid and scalable climate action requires a transformational approach. COVID-19 has been a wake up call to rethink how we emerge and rebuild as a much more resilient society. We can innovate faster and broader in ways that effectively benefit communities if we create spaces for all peoples to collaborate on designing climate responses,” said Isatis Cintron, member of the ECOS Steering Committee.
Research has identified the activation of ‘education and engagement’ is regarded as one of the six key social tipping points to realize the goal of a decarbonized world by 2050. “Everyone should have the opportunity to learn and be engaged in developing adequate responses to climate change and building healthy communities for a thriving, survivable future,” added Mark McCaffrey, author of the research and founder of ECOS. Creating durable and sustainable climate policies requires broad-based support and adaptive governance for climate measures that raise communities’ capacity to face climate change. Public empowerment makes a just climate transformation cheaper, smarter, and more effective.
All governments would benefit from collaborating and implementing the robust education, informed public engagement, and cross-sectoral training programmes for climate-related issues that Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) calls for. In fact, several countries have established an ACE National Strategy or announced their determination to step up action under ACE. However, despite countries having agreed that a worldwide response to the climate crisis is only possible with the contribution of an informed and fully involved society, the work of ACE has largely remained fragmented, underresouced and underused.
Together with youth movements, frontline communities, and indigenous partners, the #Learn4Climate campaign will build momentum and strengthen the climate empowerment mandate. Reinforced by governments and civil society on the road to the next big UN climate conference, COP26, this growing coalition aims to realize the highest possible ambition and effective implementation for the next phase of ACE. Collectively we will raise the profile and support the implementation and monitoring of ACE efforts.
We all must #Learn4Climate, join us.
PRESS CONTACT: Isatis Cintron, ECOS Steering Committee isatis.cintron@gmail.com
About ECOS
Recognized by the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat as a supporting community in 2016, the UN Climate Education, Communication, and Outreach Stakeholders (ECOS) is a “network of networks” that focuses on civic engagement, democracy, capacity building, policy development and climate literacy. Our community of experts and intergenerational agents of change actively work towards inclusive and equitable climate education, access to information, training, public awareness, civic engagement, and international cooperation. We believe that effective, disruptive innovation is imperative to achieve the deep level of transformation required in order to address climate change.
# # #