Project to strengthen school level response to climate crisis commences  

Kathmandu, 24 November: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with support from Norway, have jointly inked a three-year project to strengthen Nepal’s school education system’s response to climate change.

Torun Dramal, Norwegian ambassador Nepal, speaking at the project signing and commencement event said, “This project highlights the interconnectedness of the climate crisis and the learning crisis in Nepal. At the same time, it provides us the opportunity to support the sector from both mitigation and adaptation perspectives.”

Michael Croft, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, referring to the recent visit of the UN Secretary-General and his call for greater effort around climate change, stressed that, “This initiative is important beyond its scope, for it lays the foundation for wider action and will do much to enable a common approach under national leadership”.

Meanwhile, Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative to Nepal, emphasized, “This partnership exemplifies the crucial role education plays in addressing the climate crisis. It’s an investment in the future of Nepal’s children and youth, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

The main objective of the joint project that will be implemented in three provinces is to support Nepal in developing a climate smart, green and resilient education system through conducive policies and guidelines, and foster adaptation and mitigation measures at school level through establishing model schools, according to the press release.