Minister highlights role of education in climate change fight at UN meet
MINISTER of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron on September 17 led a delegation to attend the Transforming Education Summit, held this year at the UN headquarters in New York under the theme “Greening Education Partnership: Climate Change Education”.
The ministry said the summit aims to study solutions and provide recommendations based on evidence and that incorporate the latest innovations while identifying priority activities for transforming the education system.
“Important recommendations include providing students opportunities to equally and inclusively study technology in education, youth participation, financing for education and a political will to achieve sustainable development goals on education by 2023,” the ministry added.
While at the summit, Chuon Naron made a presentation
to the participants that focused on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“With Cambodia as chair of ASEAN this year, we took the opportunity to create an ASEAN Green Deal with the goal of promoting a green economy and
increasing economic competiveness that is resilient to climate change,” he said.
The minister added that Cambodia had also continued to raise awareness about climate change as part of their national and sub-national plans. In particular, Cambodia
has built climate resilience into the education sector.
He continued that the ministry had also cooperated with the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance, Ministry of Environment and development partners to produce textbooks and health education books that cover climate change at the primary and secondary levels to increase understanding of climate change not only among students but also for school principals and teachers, who in turn can encourage more youths to participate in related activities and learn about the issue.
“We throw our full support behind publicity for the green environmental partnership, climate change in the education sector and cooperation for inclusive development for education in Cambodia,” he added.
Separately, education ministry secretary of state Sar Sokha also led a delegation to celebrate Youth Mobilisation Day in New York at the same time as the summit. Youth Mobilisation Day this year brought together delegations from many countries.
“This meeting offers youths the opportunity to voice concerns and make requests to leaders so that they will lay out recommendations to ensure equal and quality education,” he said.