Context:
In recent years, Pacific Island nations agreed that climate change is the number one issue confronting all Pacific
islanders. It is crucial to take action in order to reduce the risks of climate change. However, many of the jobs in climate change in the Pacific are sourced externally. Greater access to climate change education is needed at all levels – in curriculum, tertiary and vocational training, as well as teacher training. The current project addresses the issue by integrating climate change awareness and knowledge into national education plans under the Australia Pacific Climate Change Partnership (the Climate Partnership/APCP). The APCP is a $75 million investment over six years (2018-2024), funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Objective:
The project aims to increase the effectiveness of Australia’s support for climate change action and disaster resilience in the Pacific partner countries Papua-New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, and Tonga through making its aid investments climate change and disaster risk informed and increasing its value as a partner in climate change action.
Approach:
APCP is backed by the Climate Partnership Support Unit, which provides technical experts on climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) and is based in Canberra and Suva. The Support Unit has partnered with GIZ to build on their many years of experience in working with local agencies and education ministries to develop and integrate climate change education materials at all levels.
Expected Results:
• Education ministry directors have adopted and integrated climate change education elements in core curriculum;
• Teachers in Pacific partner countries are applying climate change materials across a range of curricula in primary and/or secondary school systems;
• Vocational training center have integrated climate change across key weather sensitive sectors and are delivering certified climate change courses in key sectors;
• Teacher trainers and training college staff are delivering training on and supporting the application of approved climate change materials.
Type of services provided:
• Establishment of a detailed program framework based on stakeholder consultation in the priority countries Papua-New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, and Tonga
• Inception workshops in each priority country to address immediate needs
• Elaborating tailored plans on theoretical and practical training, including workshops on revision of curricula and curriculum development, as well as training of trainers
• Development of an annual education sector climate change work plan in coordination with APCP Support Unit
• Identification of emerging priorities and ongoing needs for climate change integration in the education sector together with education experts
• Development and implementation of training modules on climate change together with training centers