Module 7.4: Reading
7.4. Resources and organizations where schools can find support
7.4.1. Introduction
The fight against climate change in the EU is integrated into its budget policy. Therefore, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 allocates at least 30% of resources to climate action. Let's see how schools can take advantage of these resources to promote education for sustainability.
7.4.2 European initiatives for schools and educators
The European Commission promotes several initiatives focused on promoting education for sustainability among Member States.
The Climate Education Coalition is the participatory education community to support the changes needed to reach a climate neutral society.
On its portal, educators can find challenges, events and news related to education for sustainability.
Researchers at School (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
Researchers at the School aim to strengthen the connection between education and research, bringing researchers closer to schools. Both sides meet to talk about the current and future challenges of our society. Therefore, students learn about projects and research activities that address EU guidelines and priorities.
In that link you can find initiatives and events in your own country.
7.4.3 Other educational resources promoted by the EU
- Our planet, our future: Magazine for young people available in all EU languages. It also contains a hub for teachers with a multitude of exercises to do in the classroom.
- Learning Corner: All kinds of educational resources to know what the European Union does.
- Climate Energy Quiz: Question and answer games for children and adults to test your knowledge of sustainability. Available in all EU languages, plus Mandarin Chinese.
- Climatic Action Board game and Biodiversity Board Game: A green version of the traditional goose game. Also available in all EU languages.
- Climate Pact Ambassadors: Another resource, although not specific to schools, is to invite our students to become ambassadors of the Climate Pact. At the moment the system is no longer accepting ambassadors but we hope to reopen very soon.
7.4.4 Projects and opportunities
The EU offers funding for projects and programs aimed at the sustainability of Member States. Aid is allocated, partly financed by the EU and partly with other funds; subsidies managed by national and regional authorities; loans, as forms of financial assistance to support EU policies and programmes, etc.
Through the eTwinning platform you can create a network with other teachers in Europe and find countless collaborative activities with other schools.
The Erasmus+ programs are also a great opportunity to promote sustainability education in your school. Specifically the Erasmus+ KA1 school education projects offers grants for individual mobilities of teachers and for groups of students around educational projects that are part of the priorities of the European Union.
The individual mobilities of teachers represent a great opportunity for training through courses, many of them around education for sustainability, which you can find in the following search engine. You can also find opportunities for job shadowing or joint projects with students from other schools in Europe where they carry out sustainability education projects through the platform eTwinning.
Activity: Visit the web page School Education Gateway and find a resource or project in which you could participate individually or with your students.
Sources and resources: