Education

Access to education is not equally distributed among our youth. Disparities in secondary school attendance by ethnic group, wealth and educational level have increased since the 1990s in developing countries.

• For every 100 boys of primary school age who are out of school, 121 girls are denied the right to education.
• 11% of the world’s youth (15-24 years old) are non-literate.

Natural disasters greatly affect the education sector by destroying key infrastructures, disrupting the education cycles and forcing children to drop out of school for extended periods of time. At the same time, education is a powerful tool to build societies' resilience. Commitments made at the international level, including the World Programme of Action for Youth, the Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All Goals, identify education as a key priority area for action.

Indigenous people often are agents of environmental conservation and not just victims of the effects. In fact since 2008, representatives of indigenous peoples have been actively seeking a role in contributing to combating climate change through activism and political engagement at local and national levels. We recognize the potential for their decision-making power at a local and global level that may contribute to saving the planet.

We need informed policymakers to improve decision-making in the interests of all citizens, all cultures and the environment. By 2030, we need to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills required to promote sustainable development. This requires an education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity.

The collective challenges we face with the climate crisis and equity issues require innovation that promote systemic change across all sectors. Growing cooperation among multilateral organizations, donors and the private sector is needed to provide developing countries and beneficiaries with technologies that increase efficiency, the use of natural resources, treat the generated pollution and mitigate climate change.

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