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Does the Paris Agreement require countries to train kids to become climate activists?

Thursday, January 28, 2021
By Austin Tannenbaum
NO

The 2015 Paris Agreement, a treaty currently endorsed by 197 countries to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, does not require countries to train students how to be climate activists.

Article 12 of the agreement states:

"Parties shall cooperate in taking measures, as appropriate, to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information."

According to then-UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, the education initiative aims to equip youth with ”the skills and values [they] need to successfully manage the energy and climate revolution.” Bokova identified educator training, further integration of sustainable development into education systems and innovative partnerships, such as those with the private sector, as the three major planks of the initiative.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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