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CLOUD - Climate Literacy Outreach inclUsion Diversity

Year Awarded

2024

Amount

€60,000

  • Organisation:Education for Sustainability

Project Summary

Education for Sustainability, voted Best Social Enterprise 2024, is a non-profit organisation increasing climate literacy & fostering behaviour change. Founded in response to the escalating climate crisis/deficit of action-based climate education, we see our young people as changemakers. Our mission compliments Ireland’s Second National Implementation Plan for the SDGs 2030: all children in Ireland to be climate literate, having the knowledge, skills & tools to create a sustainable future, locally, regionally & globally. Implemented through our fully-funded 8 Week Climate Literacy Programme & delivered in over 350 schools across Ireland; through our Principals Platform; working with businesses & charities; educating undergrads, trainee teachers & PHD students; training teachers from other European countries.

Climate Science & Climate Literacy underpin STEM. Led by Susan Adams & Orla Sheehan, with collaboration from Katriona O’Sullivan, Localise Youth Volunteering (Localise), Hilary McNamara & Therese Mylinski (key stakeholders in climate education/research), CLOUD targets 8-10 schools to complete our 8-week climate literacy programme & develop action projects for their communities in Dublin’s inner city over 12 months.

Schools are selected to complete our programme, developing strategies for creating & executing climate action projects. Students will conduct needs analysis, identifying local climate justice challenges. Projects are executed within schools/communities, engaging stakeholders from marginalised communities to co-create climate solutions/actions. This addresses gaps in climate education accessibility in lower economic areas of Dublin by empowering students to become climate change agents, ensuring their voices are heard, breaking socio-economic barriers to participation in STEM & sustainability careers.

Students focus on reflection, review impacts, and celebrate achievements to establish opportunities for future scalability & replication.