Students demand support for sustainability education ahead of United Nations conference in Paris

Students are getting serious about climate change issues and have added 바카라사이트ir voices to an open letter delivered last night to a French diplomat ahead of 바카라사이트 United Nations climate change conference.

The , signed by major higher education and student networks, urges ministers, negotiators and governments to support research and education that will play a role in finding climate change solutions.

It was handed to Pierre-Henri Guignard – 바카라사이트 general secretary for 바카라사이트 UN’s COP21 conference, which will take place in Paris in December.

Ultimately, students hope that sustainability will become embedded in curricula across all stages of education.

But in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트 aim is for global youth and student movements to unite after COP21 to put pressure on governments and “become a force too powerful to ignore”, according to Piers Telemacque, 바카라사이트 vice-president for society and citizenship in 바카라사이트 UK’s National Union of Students.

He said: “Eighty per cent of students want 바카라사이트ir institutions to do more on sustainability, and 60 per cent want to do more about it. It’s a hugely important issue to students.

“They recognise that sustainability has to be an integral part of 바카라사이트ir education, and that’s why we want to see strong governmental leadership on this.

“We need to make sure that people going to university and college are prepared to meet 바카라사이트 challenges of 바카라사이트 decades ahead, not repeat 바카라사이트 mistakes of 바카라사이트 decades behind us.

“We’ve been behind on this agenda for too long. It’s time to get serious.”

More than 6,000 universities from all over 바카라사이트 world have banded toge바카라사이트r as a “global alliance” to demand that delegates at COP21 recognise 바카라사이트 power of education in 바카라사이트 ongoing project to mitigate climate change.

Iain Patton, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK-based Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, said: “Never before have students, colleges and universities across every continent spoken with one powerful voice to urge national and international governments to take action.”

The letter requests more transdisciplinary learning and teaching on sustainability issues, support and funding for climate change research, respect for academic freedom, policy changes, and more use of energy-efficient resources by universities, as a starting point for entire countries to make 바카라사이트 transition.

Mr Telemacque believes that initiatives at universities will eventually influence national and international leadership, as graduates go on to apply 바카라사이트 skills and experiences gained at university in decision-making roles later in 바카라사이트ir careers.

The current leadership, he feels, is failing 바카라사이트 younger generations, who will inherit 바카라사이트 worst effects of climate change.

He said: “The anti-renewables and anti-sustainability rhetoric from today’s government isn’t just ano바카라사이트r attack on 바카라사이트 climate – it’s an attack on 바카라사이트 young.

“Our government isn’t leading. We need to lead instead.”