CSD-hosted Earth Day Series: World-wide Teach-in for Climate Justice
Event under the Series of Worldwide Climate & Justice Education : https://www.worldwide-climate-ed.org
The event series is organized by Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of Climate School at Columbia University: https://csd.columbia.edu/ with Climate Education for a Resilient Future, Earth Network at the Climate School: https://people.climate.columbia.edu/networks/profile/climate-education-for-a-resilient-future
Language: English
Host Email: Dr. Radhika Iyengar at [email protected]
PANEL #1: BARRIERS & POTENTIALS IN USING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING TOWARDS CLIMATE JUSTICE
Date: April 7
Time: 9am EDT
Panel 1 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/DcLatGcHSEyjeNs9ehRayQ
Event: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) enhances our connection to nature by fostering mindfulness, empathy, and responsible decision-making. However, in many regions, droughts and natural calamities have skewed our relationship and mental space with nature. This conversation will bring us the ground realities of contextualization of SEL used as a teaching tool. It will first start to explore the current barriers that grip using SEL as a teaching and learning tool. The conversation will then reflect on frameworks and practices that have shown the various pathways of using SEL for environmental education. While doing so, the interconnected nature of these pathways are also discovered. Speakers will discuss using purposeful pedagogy, design for change and collective happiness frameworks. While others will bring examples of national initiatives (STEAM in Pakistan; Climate Integration in New Jersey) as implementation ideas. While there are others who reflect on nudges that could help to spread out powerful environmental messages/actions in the community. Others work on cultural attitudes and context as possible pathways. A common underlying theme is contextualising SEL needs to have underwritten by a justice lens. We do that by highlighting the barriers to implementing SEL and the possible solutions from the ground. Then we explore how these can be strategized to be scaled to be included in formal and non-formal curricula.
Moderator: Radhika Iyengar
Panelists:
Camila Hadi Chaudhary: Role of SEL, climate, teaching, and learning
Ambreena Ahmed, Director, Teachers’ Resource Centre, Pakistan: SEL and Climate Education tool kit for teachers
Afia Aslam: Advocacy with teachers unfamiliar with the topic
Arya Karumanthra: Perspectives from India.
Eshal Farooqi: Environmental Teaching needs to be Contextualized.
Marvi Soomro: School Gardens and SEL: Potential of SEL in Teaching and Learning
Fozia Parveen: Teacher aids
Arooj Khalid: Case Studies from Pakistan
Discussant: Baela Jamil
Panel #2: BRIDGING GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION & EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Case studies from Asia Pacific
Date: 9th April 2025
Time: 9pm EDT
Panel #2 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/C5QLRHz8TRygwBIS2wc6oQ
Session description: Join us for an insightful event exploring how Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can be bridged through mindfulness practices. Featuring case studies from Malaysia and China, this session will highlight innovative approaches that integrate mindfulness into education, fostering sustainability, global awareness, and social responsibility. Learn how educators and policymakers are using mindfulness to enhance critical thinking, empathy, and resilience in students, preparing them to tackle global challenges. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for transformative education!
Moderator: Karen Chand
Panelists:
Panelists:
Faryal Khan, Ed.D. Programme Specialist for Education, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: International global frameworks on peace and exploring the potential of mindfulness in implementing the Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development (2023): International global frameworks on peace and exploring the potential of mindfulness in implementing the Recommendation.
Radhika Iyengar, Associate Research Scholar, Climate School, Columbia University: Framework on Social Emotional Learning connecting Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Rajib Timalsina, Assistant Professor, Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, Tribhuvan University: Role of peace building and values in bridging the divide and creating pathways for implementation.
Subarna Sivapalan, Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Malaysia: Case study from Malaysia
Nitas Syed, Director of Education Programs, Bard College Beijing Office for Asia-Pacific: Experiences from fieldwork in China
Language: English
PANEL #3: ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Date : April 11th
Time: 10am EDT
Panel #3 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/bXCbhHVqRl-DSRR5Hsz8cg
Session description: This panel will discuss the history and geography of Higher Education’s role in Greening Education. All ideation will be individual reflections of thought leaders spearheading the Greening of Higher Education Institutions. This panel will explore the evolving role of Higher Education in advancing sustainability, tracing its historical foundations, geographical variations, and institutional transformations. Experts will share insights on lessons learned, accreditation initiatives, and innovative approaches shaping the future of Greening Higher Education. Discussions will cover global trends, regional challenges, and field-based experiences, offering a comprehensive look at how universities are integrating sustainability into their curricula, policies, and operations. With perspectives spanning different countries and educational systems, the panel will highlight both successes and areas for growth in the movement toward more environmentally responsible higher education institutions.
Panelists
Daniella Tilbury: The history of Greening Higher Education Lessons Learnt and ways to go forward.
Debra Rowe: UN-supported Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI)’s initiative in greening accreditation.
Olivia Copsey: Programming of Greening of Higher Education: Lessons from the field.
Subarna Sivapalan: Greening of Higher education landscape in Malaysia, trends and challenges.
Noor Fatima: Treatment to sustainability: Glimpses from Pakistan’s university
Moderator: Radhika Iyengar, Columbia University
Panel #4: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & ENGAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Lessons Learnt and Policy Insights
Date: April 15, 2025
Time: 9-10am EDT
Panel #4 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/xj1FUBLMSHaDB683g9TvNg
Event link: https://actionnetwork.org/events/youth-empowerment-engagement-for-sustainable-development-lessons-learnt-and-policy-insights?source=direct_link&
Event Description: The panel will discuss the forthcoming special Issue: Policy Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development, hosted by the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. The aim is to garner reflections on how ESD has transitioned from policy to practice and where that will leave the world in 2030, with a focus on the powerful role of youth.
This panel will highlight key initiatives in education for sustainable development (ESD), offering valuable lessons for youth engagement. The discussion underscores the gap between policy design and real-world impact, a challenge youth often face when advocating for change. Emphasizing youth-led innovation reinforces that young people must be seen as co-creators, not just beneficiaries. Case studies on whole-school and systemic approaches illustrate the power of structured sustainability education, yet they raise questions about accessibility and scalability for all students. The focus on cities as policy spaces highlights the need for localized, youth-inclusive governance in ESD. These discussions must move beyond frameworks to action, ensuring youth are not just included but empowered as leaders of sustainable development.This panel will provide valuable reflections from young people, experts, and practitioners on how to enrich ESD via youth engagement and empowerment to enhance impact for global development.
Through a youth-lens, we ask participants to reflect on the following questions:
- Midway through the UN’s most ambitious development agenda, how effective are implementation strategies and current conceptualizations of ESD in moving the world towards the targets set for 2030?
- How does the field of ESD align or misalign with global development objectives?
- What kind of education do we need to address the pressing challenges of the twenty-first century?
Co-Moderators:
Amber Webb, U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Ishaan Bharadwaj, Youth Eco-Ambassador, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
Speakers:
- Wendy Purcell, Sumie Song, Matthew Witenstein, & Radhika Iyengar on “Empowering Youth-led Innovation to Accelerate Sustainable Development”
- Livleen Kahlon on “Promoting an enhanced learning about environment through a whole school approach and non-formal education tools: a case study of GREEN Olympiad”
- Pramod Sharma on “Galvanising Education for Sustainable Development Practice through the Greening Education Partnership: Steering Green Schools Toward 2030 and Beyond”
- Doo Rhee Lee, Imesha Ediriweera Patabendige, Jessie Wetherby, Maha Malik, and Laura Engel on “The Global Governance of Education for Sustainable Development: Cities as Critical Policy Spaces”
Discussants:
- Shrey Aggarwal, Youth Eco-Ambassador, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
- Eshaan Akula, Youth Eco-Ambassador, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
Further information on the “Policy Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development” hosted by the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development can be found at: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jsd
Editors:
Amber Webb, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Radhika Iyengar, Columbia University
Charles Hopkins, York University
Katrin Kohl, York University
PANEL #5: COLUMBIA CLIMATE SCHOOL'S WIDER COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
Date: Thursday, April 10
Time: 12-1pm EDT
Panel #5 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/nZqQS4pRQSiJK6kY5eVmYA
Session description: The Columbia Climate School offers a wide range of opportunities for K12 students, with a particular focus on middle and high school students. These programs aim to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge to create positive climate solutions, become environmental stewards, and lead within their communities. By increasing science and data literacy, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, and encouraging students to integrate climate knowledge into any career path they choose, the Climate School empowers the next generation of changemakers.
Together, the Columbia Climate School, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and the Center for Sustainable Development bring decades of experience running these programs and have developed best practices for teaching earth science, climate, and sustainability in ways that deeply resonate with students. These approaches include place-based, field-based, and project-based learning; tiered mentorship structures; immersive programming; debate, negotiation, and collaboration exercises; communication strategies to simplify complex topics and more. These proven strategies can be adapted and incorporated into your classrooms to inspire and engage students in meaningful climate action.
Audience: The tools in the workshop are open to teachers of all subjects, but the content will have a special focus on Earth and environmental sciences.
Grade levels: Suggested grades 8-12
Moderator: Haein Shin, Center for Sustainable Development
Panelists: Ben Bostick, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Margie Turrin, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Marisa Annunziato, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Laurel Zaima-Sheehy, Columbia Climate School; Radhika Iyengar, Center for Sustainable Development; Magdaly Sevilla, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
PANEL #6: EDUCATING FOR A GLOBAL FUTURE: INSIGHT FROM The Ages of Globalization
April 11th
4pm EDT
Panel #7 Registration: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/xalEZVuyT-yICGf5HA66Yw
Event link: https://actionnetwork.org/events/educating-for-a-global-future-insights-from-the-ages-of-globalization?source=direct_link&
Panel Description: As globalization continues to shape our world, education must evolve to prepare students for an interconnected future. The Ages of Globalization by Jeffrey Sachs has been adapted into an online course to bring historical and economic insights into classrooms worldwide. This panel brings together educators, students, course designers, and funders to discuss how the course is impacting learning, its strengths and challenges, and the future of global education. The panel will discuss the curricular content of AOG along with the interactive components with lesson plans for the teachers. Teachers and students who are interested in taking this course can visit this website https://www.agesofglobalization.com/ for registering and also to receive updates by subscribing to the listserve.
Panelists:
- Educator’s Perspective – A high school or university teacher who has used the course materials in their classroom. They can discuss implementation, student engagement, and how the course fits into broader curricula. Ms. Claudinette Fetus, Principal of Manhattan Charter School, New York City, Ms. Valastro Tripoli, Principal of PS 58 School of Heroes, Queens, New York City, Virendra Rawat is the originator of the Green School & Green University Concept
- Student’s Perspective – Shriya Iyer, Cyra Sachan and Ela Karakurt discuss the student perspectives of the course. Student share how it shaped their understanding of globalization and historical trends.
- Course Designer’s Perspective – Haein Shin and Katja Anger-Delimi to share the course process, key challenges, and future plans.
- Maps and Data Perspective- A member of the SDGs Today will join to share their experience on geospatial references and capabilities.
- On Sustainability ideas and inspiration –
- Professor Anne Dolan will share her book and educator resources
- Dina Buchbinder from Education for Sharing share their recent experiences.
This exciting series will culminate in an in-person reception close to Earth Day. Details coming soon!