Charting an SDG 4.7 Roadmap for Radical, Transformative Change in the Midst of Climate Breakdown
Featuring a keynote speech by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute
April 29, 2020
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The purpose of this workshop is to build off of the Brookings report and to bring together stakeholders from the fields of ESD, GCED, GE, and HR education to begin laying out a shared vision, or roadmap, for the global education sector in climate action. The aim is that this workshop will serve as a launching pad for a series of working meetings over the course of 2020 for those who express interest at the workshop to continue being engaged. The working meetings will culminate in an edited volume focused on education and climate action.
Workshop Organizers
Radhika Iyengar, Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University
Christina Kwauk, Center for Universal Education, The Brookings Institution
Agenda
9:10-9:20
Jahnavi Bhatt to inspire us with a poem recitation
9:20-9:40
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute presents his vision on integrating SDG 4.7 with climate change.
Part 1
9:40 -9:50
Christina Kwauk presents the Brooking Institution Report specifically highlighting the 5 Roadblocks in Education. (See full report here)
9:50-10:10
Academicians
Entry points to systems transformation needed for radical climate action by education systems
Nidhi Thakur, Professor Kean University, New Jersey
Bob Jickling, Professor Emeritus, Lakehead University
Heila Lotz-Sisitka, Professor, Rhodes University
Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Deputy Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) , The Earth Institute
10:10-10:30
Policy and Advocacy
Reorienting monitoring & accountability mechanisms and the incentive structures of our current education systems
Adriana Valenzuela, UNFCCC
Priyadarshani Joshi, Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, UNESCO
Frank Neopold, NOAA
Jess Cooke, Plan International
10:30-10:50
Non-profits and Think Tanks
Role of Think Tanks and NGOs that integrate education and Climate: Successes, challenges
Caroline Lewis, Founder and Senior Climate Advisor, CLEO Institute
Kartikeya Sarabhai, Centre for Environment Education, India
Ellen Chigwanda, Advocacy Advisor for Education, CARE USA
Anna Bertmar Khan, Deputy Director of Programs, Dubai Cares
Part 2
11:00-11:15
School Teacher’s Perspective
What support do teachers require to take the leap toward radical, transformative teaching and learning for climate action?
William Bertolotti, Plainedge High School, New York
Elisa Hartwig, The Green School Antigua
Abby Ruskey, Fellow in Complex Systems Management at UC-Merced
11:15-11:35
Local organizations/Community organizing, US-domestic and international
Local action at the township level: Evidence of what has worked and what are some roadblocks to building community leaders/action at the grassroots
Priya Patel, Chair Millburn School Green Team and also Member Millburn Environmental Commission
Vanita Gangwal, Convener Millburn Climate Action Group
John Mugabo, Millennium Promise Staff in Rwanda
Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Editor, Pacific Environment Weekly, Samoa
11:35-11:50
Youth Perspective and their Communications
What do students want to see happen in schools and communities and how best to communicate these actions/ideas
Aalok Bhatt, Millburn High School, New Jersey
Vidya Bindal, Millburn Middle School, New Jersey
Srinivas Akula, community-based education coordinator, Telangana, India
Sahana Ghosh, Climate Reporter Mongabay India
11:50 – 11:55
Wrap up & next steps
11:55 – 12:00
Program ends
Gopal Patel, Director Bhumi Project, reads out quotes from the Bhagavad Gita on sustainability
Radhika Iyengar has a Ph.D. (with distinction) in Economics of Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in 2011. She holds an Associate Research Scholar’s position at the Center for Sustainable Development at the Earth Institute, Columbia University. With her team of experts, she leads education and gender projects in multiple Sub-Saharan countries as well as in South Asia. Dr. Iyengar also oversees multi-country research projects on language literacy and environmental education, promoting and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals for Education and Gender. Her research interests are in conducting evaluation of educational programs and international educational development.
Christina Kwauk is a fellow in the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. Her current research focuses on gender equality in education, 21st century skills and youth empowerment, and education and climate change. Christina is co-author (with Gene Sperling and Rebecca Winthrop) of What Works in Girls’ Education: Evidence for the World’s Best Investment. She has published on girls’ life skills education, gender in education and climate policies, and sport for development. Christina also manages the Echidna Global Scholars Program and previously served as chair of the Girls CHARGE initiative. Christina holds a PhD in Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota, a MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and a BS in Psychology from Sewanee: The University of the South.