Why inclusive education is the cornerstone of climate resilience

The impacts of climate change are putting education systems under unprecedented strain globally, and the need for state-led, gender-responsive, climate-resilient education has never been more urgent. Rising global temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental degradation are consistently destabilising education systems, severely disrupting children’s access to education, and compounding existing inequalities. Girls are frequently the first to be withdrawn from school during crises, heightening their vulnerability to issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence (GBV), and other child protection risks - creating a cycle of inequality and climate vulnerability. The risk that climate change presents to the roll back on girls’ education and broader rights cannot be overstated. 

State education systems need a robust foundation that prioritises gender-responsive strategies within climate-resilient planning to ensure that children, especially girls, are protected and supported during climate crises. This requires integrating gender-sensitive climate change education into curricula, implementing targeted emergency response plans that prioritise girls’ access to education, and establishing safe learning environments that address the specific needs of girls and boys in their full diversity. A strengthened, adaptive approach in the humanitarian and education sectors is crucial to ensure preparedness and resilience in the face of climate-driven challenges. 

At COP29, it is vital for leaders to acknowledge and address the escalating strain on national education systems and the international humanitarian sector due to climate-related crises. Strengthening these systems is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and safeguarding girls' education in the long term. 

The Gendered Impact of Climate Change on Education 

The impact of climate change on education is extensive, with girls facing significant setbacks. According to UNICEF, around 40 million children have their education disrupted each year by climate-related disasters. During crises, girls are often the first to be withdrawn from school, which exacerbates gender inequalities in education. The United Nations also reports that 80% of those displaced by climate change are women. This disparity affects girls' access to and continuity in education post-crisis. A climate-resilient approach to education requires more than just climate-proof infrastructure—it must include gender-responsive climate change education in curricula, prioritised emergency response plans for girls, and mechanisms to ensure educational continuity. 

Case studies, such as the Jigawa State Government’s response to the devastating floods in Northern Nigeria, demonstrate how targeted interventions, guided by best practices in humanitarian response, can maintain educational continuity. Through risk mitigation strategies, gender-sensitive data collection, and collaboration with GBV and child protection actors, PLANE’s work exemplifies the proactive and inclusive approaches needed to protect children and promote educational resilience in the face of climate challenges. 

The Cycle of Gender Inequality and Climate Vulnerability

Climate-related disruptions in education can fuel a cycle of gender inequality and climate vulnerability. For example, crises can often drive an increase child marriage, as a survival strategy for families under stress. As CARE highlights, this increases girls’ risk of intimate partner violence, early pregnancy, and maternal mortality. The long-term impacts of child marriage extend to future generations, with girls who marry early less likely to send their children to school or able to support their educational attainment. This perpetuates a cycle of inequality, reinforcing both educational disadvantage and vulnerability to climate change. Addressing this requires urgent investment in gender-responsive, climate-resilient education systems that protect girls' rights during crises, working hand-in-hand with GBV and child protection actors to do so.

Responding to Climate-Related Emergencies Globally Through a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Lens

When climate disasters strike, education is often one of the first casualties, with girls and children from marginalised groups including indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty disproportionately affected. The Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) highlights that education in emergencies provides crucial physical, psychosocial, and cognitive protection, which can be both life-sustaining and life-saving. To ensure education continues during climate-related emergencies, strategies must be targeted at reducing the risk of loss of learning and the risk of child marriage. Response services must also be put in place to support survivors of gender-based violence, including:

1. Prioritise the education and safety of girls and marginalised groups during climate-related emergencies, working in partnership  with child protection and gender-based violence actors.
2. Developing early warning systems that account for the specific vulnerabilities of girls and people from marginalised groups, including children with disabilities.
3. Ensure accessibility for girls and boys with disabilities in emergency education plans. Creating flexible learning solutions, such as remote learning, that are accessible to girls.
4. Ensure community knowledge is incorporated into climate change education, promoting culturally relevant solutions.
5. Training teachers in gender-sensitive emergency response and psychosocial support.
6. Establishing safe learning spaces that meet the needs of girls, including appropriate sanitation facilities.
7. Implementing measures to prevent girls from dropping out of school during crises, reducing the risk of child marriage. Address the root causes of child marriage exacerbated by climate change.
8. Work with communities to share information regarding the danger of child marriage and targeting families with unmarried adolescent girls to increase access to social protection interventions.
9. Provide targeted support for vulnerable communities most affected by climate crises. Funding child protection and GBV response services. 
10. Promote girls’ leadership in climate action and disaster risk reduction.

As global leaders meet for COP29, it is essential that they prioritise inclusive education as a cornerstone of climate resilience and commit to strengthening national education systems with a focus on gender equality, social inclusion and protection. By investing in these areas, states can create sustainable and inclusive education systems that safeguard the rights and futures of children in the most vulnerable communities, ensuring that they are equipped to face an increasingly uncertain world. Only through such comprehensive, state-driven efforts can we build a generation capable of breaking cycles of gender inequality and climate vulnerability, advancing both climate resilience and global gender equality in the process.