Accessing the Evidence Base for Climate Education: How Education Policy Makers Can Advance Climate Action

• 1 October 2026

Monash University | MECCE | Victoria | Australia

Panel Discussion | 5pm – 6pm, AEST (Find Local Time)

Duration: 1 hour

Platform: Zoom

Description: Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) recognises education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and international cooperation as essential enablers of climate action. Yet despite growing support for climate education around the world, policy makers are often faced with gaps in information on what is already being done in their country and globally, and how best education policy can support climate action.

What are the baselines for climate education policy?

Governments increasingly require robust evidence to guide investment, evaluate progress and design climate education policies that create measurable impact. As countries develop and implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans and broader climate strategies, there is growing demand for supports to help measure, monitor and strengthen climate education policy and its impacts.

This session brings together global leaders working across climate education policy, Action for Climate Empowerment, and evidence generation to overview existing resources and how stronger evidence can support better policy making.

The discussion will showcase emerging international initiatives, including UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership, the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) Project, and other global efforts to develop indicators, guidance frameworks, and policies that support the embedding of climate mitigation and adaptation measures across schools and other education and training settings.

Speakers will explore:

• what evidence policymakers need to develop effective climate education policy;
• emerging indicators and monitoring frameworks for Action for Climate Empowerment;
• lessons from international initiatives such as the Greening Education Partnership;
• opportunities to strengthen collaboration between governments, researchers, international organisations and civil society; and
• practical approaches for measuring progress and accelerating implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Rather than asking whether climate education matters, this session focuses on how policy makers can use evidence to ensure education policy delivers meaningful outcomes for students, communities and the planet.

Expected Outcomes:

• Greater understanding of how evidence strengthens climate education policy.
• Practical examples of global databases and international frameworks supporting governments to design, implement and evaluate climate education policy.
• Increased awareness of emerging indicators and monitoring approaches for Action for Climate Empowerment.
• Stronger collaboration between governments, international organisations, researchers and civil society.
• Practical recommendations for strengthening evidence-based implementation of climate education under the Paris Agreement.

Panel speakers: