Climate in the classroom

As climate change accelerates, its impacts on education systems are becoming impossible to ignore. From submerged schools in Bangladesh to heatwave-related closures in Pakistan, extreme weather events disrupt learning for millions of children annually, particularly in the Global South.

Climate change poses one of the most significant threats to global development, particularly in vulnerable regions of this region. This is because rising temperatures, extreme weather events and sea-level rise disproportionately affect low-income countries – disrupting livelihoods, infrastructure and education systems.

In this connection, global frameworks like the UNFCCC, Sendai, and SDGs, provide essential guidance for climate-resilient education. For example, SDG 4 relates to quality education, SDG 13 on climate action intersection in promoting resilient education. Similarly, SDG 4.7 mandates education for sustainable development (ESD), including climate change awareness, and then SDG 13.3 calls for improved climate education globally.

The Paris Agreement 2015 in its’ Article 12 emphasised climate education and public awareness, pushing nations to integrate climate change into school programs. Also, the first Global Stocktake (GST) 2023 highlighted education as a key enabler of climate adaptation, urging stronger policy linkages.

Climate-smart education is an emerging approach that integrates climate adaptation and disaster preparedness into learning environments, ensuring continuity and safety for students and educators. The concept is built on foundational pillars such as resilient school infrastructure designed to withstand floods, cyclones and extreme heat; adaptive learning systems and multi-use facilities that can serve as emergency shelters during disasters; curricula that incorporate climate change, sustainability and disaster preparedness; flexible education models (such as mobile schools and digital platforms) to ensure continuity during disruptions; and community empowerment through training for teachers, students and parents in disaster response. It also emphasises the integration of local knowledge with scientific climate adaptation strategies.

Taking the lead, many countries have already incorporated education-sector resilience into their NAPs, ensuring schools are disaster-proof and curricula include climate literacy. By aligning national policies with these agreements – and developing programmes such as Climate-Smart Schools – government-ensured learning continues, even amid climate crises. The coming years must see greater investment and political commitment to safeguard education for future generations by transforming education into climate-smart-education.

The Global South’s innovations prove that education can be both a climate change casualty and a powerful adaptation tool. Indonesia’s tsunami-ready schools, and Pakistan’s climate curriculum show how learning systems can evolve to meet environmental challenges. After the devastating floods in 2010 and 2022 displaced millions of students, Pakistan also has emerged as a leader in adaptation.

The best example is Japan which again has risen from the ashes of the 2011 great east Japan earthquake and tsunami to become a beacon of hope in disaster-resilient education, proving that every cloud has a silver lining. Drawing from its hard-won experience, the nation has extended its expertise to climate-vulnerable regions of Pakistan through targeted initiatives. The Japanese government, through its development arms JICA and KnK Japan, has gone the extra mile to construct earthquake and flood-resistant schools in high-risk areas. These structures incorporate Japan’s gold-standard engineering principles developed post-tsunami, featuring elevated foundations, reinforced frames and dual-purpose designs that transform into emergency shelters – a brilliant adaptation of Japan’s ‘school as evacuation centre’ model.

Walking the walk of climate-smart education, Japan has helped Pakistani schools implement cutting-edge early warning systems and evacuation drills, mirroring its own nationwide preparedness protocols. Through comprehensive teacher training programmes, Japanese experts have shared their tried and tested disaster risk reduction curriculum that perfectly balances theory with life-saving practical skills. I have personally visited KnK Japan’s localised initiatives in collaboration with local non-profits organisations such as Yar Muhammad Samejo Educational Society and Development Organization (YMSESDO), a Jaffarabad-based not-for-profit in Balochistan, which is setting the best examples to emulate as they have practically demonstrated how community-driven solutions can weather any storm. From storm-proof school designs to solar-powered classrooms that keep lessons going come rain or shine, these interventions represent Japan’s remarkable ability to turn tragedy into transformative action.

Setting a great example, the government of Pakistan has also introduced a climate change curriculum in 2023 for grades 6-12, covering topics like renewable energy and flood preparedness – a first in South Asia. Another flagship programme, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), has also been initiated by the global community.

The Global South’s innovations prove that education can be both a climate change casualty and a powerful adaptation tool. Bangladesh’s floating classrooms, Indonesia’s tsunami-ready schools, Pakistan’s climate resilient schools and climate curriculum demonstrate how learning systems can evolve to meet environmental challenges. As climate impacts intensify, these models offer blueprints for keeping education accessible, turning schools from vulnerable sites into hubs of resilience that protect both minds and communities against an uncertain future.

Despite all the progress, transforming education systems into a holistic resilient system is faced with plethora of challenges as climate education receives just two per cent of global climate finance through Global Partnership for Education (GPE) which need to be jacked up to at least 20 per cent. However, to build on the mentioned successes, stakeholders must mainstream climate smart standards into policies, boost local innovation, support grassroots solutions like mobile schools and link education to broader climate strategies while connecting education programmes to national adaptation plans and education commitments made during COP28 in Dubai. Alongside other international agreements and programmes, these frameworks help countries integrate disaster preparedness, sustainability and adaptation into their education policies.

By investing in climate-smart education today, we can prepare generations to face tomorrow’s crises not as victims, but as informed, adaptable problem-solvers. These examples light the way and now the world must follow their lead.

Climate-resilient education is not just about survival; it’s about empowering the next generation to thrive amid environmental crises. The innovations from Japan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan demonstrate that even in the face of extreme adversity, education can adapt and endure. By scaling these models, we can build a future where no child’s learning is disrupted by climate change.

The writer is a climate governance expert. He tweets/posts @razashafqat and can be reached at: razashafqat@yahoo.com