MONTRÉAL, Sept. 13,
2024 /CNW/ - Environmental education among
Canada's younger generations
fosters the ability of youth to understand and critically evaluate
the complex interplay between human activities, ecological systems,
and the changing climate.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment
and Climate Change, has announced the awarding of $2.9 million to eight Canadian organizations
for projects dedicated to environmental education and climate
literacy. Environment and Climate Change Canada's support for these
eight projects contributes to the Government of Canada's strategy to inform, engage, and
mobilize Canadians for climate action.
Funded projects include the Centre for Global Education,
which will develop the innovative Advanced Placement (AP) Nature
and Earth Seminar program designed to redefine education by
integrating knowledge from Indigenous communities with contemporary
ecological concerns. Specifically designed to support historically
marginalized young people, the program gives them the opportunity
to become agents of change in their communities, fostering a
generation of informed, committed, and proactive environmental
stewards.
The Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier will be setting up an
exhibition and a bilingual online educational program focusing on
the impact of climate change on human health, and the importance of
individual and collective climate action.
The Foundation for Environmental Stewardship will develop a
net-zero solutions portal with video modules and educational kits
for schools. This organization, which aims to support young people
in getting climate action off the ground in Canada, will also implement a mentoring
program for young people on net-zero solutions in rural communities
across Canada, with support for
the professional development of their educators.
Lakehead University will receive
support for its Accelerating Climate Change Education (CCE) in
Teacher Education project, which aims to support climate change
education in pre-service and in-service teacher training across
Canada through consultations,
webinars, online courses, and resources.
Thanks to the support announced today, the partners behind these
projects will positively impact the advancement of environmental
education by supporting teacher training programs, improving access
to environmental education resources, and conducting further
research to find evidence-based solutions for environmental
education in Canada.
Funded projects will aim to develop knowledge, tools, or skills
for young Canadians, their families, and their educators, with a
primary focus on preparing young people for the future and
contributing to Canada's climate
goals, such as becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Quotes
"In this back-to-school season, I am delighted to announce our
support for these organizations and their environmental education
projects that are working for future generations. People of all
generations need to understand climate issues, if they are to make
a difference. Likewise, they need to know what they can do, how
they can do it, and how it will affect them and their
community."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment
and Climate Change
Quick facts
- Environmental education is the ability to understand and take
into account the links between human activities, ecological
systems, and climate change. Environmental education involves
understanding not only climate science and the environmental forces
at work, but also sustainable practices and the ethical and social
aspects of environmental challenges.
- Promoting environmental education is one of Canada's international commitments, in line
with section 12 of the Paris Agreement, the Kunming–Montréal Global
Biodiversity Framework, and the 2021 UNESCO Berlin
Declaration.
- Improving environmental education will give young Canadians the
skills they need to understand and confront the three major threats
of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
- From May to July 2024,
Environment and Climate Change Canada invited young people across
Canada to have their say on what a
National Framework for Environmental Learning should look like, and
the impact it should have. More than 350 passionate young people
expressed their thoughts and feelings on the subject of
environmental learning. A Report – What We Heard will be published
in 2024, followed by the implementation of the National
Environmental Learning Framework in 2025.
Related products
- Backgrounder: Government of Canada invests $2.9
million in eight environmental education projects across the
country
Associated links
- Toward a National Framework for Environmental Learning:
Discussion Paper
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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada