ECW calls on world leaders to urgently provide 150 million US dollars additional funding to expand vital access to education for 2 million children and adolescents on the front lines of the climate crisis.
NEW YORK, December 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) In Dubaithe government of Denmark announced today 45 million Danish crowns (approximately 6.5 million US dollars) in additional funding for Education Can’t Wait (ECW) to increase access to quality educational opportunities for girls and boys living on the front lines of the climate crisis.
New data released by ECW reveals that approximately 62 million children and adolescents affected by the crisis have been impacted by climatic hazards over the last three years. With the increasing severity and intensity of cyclones, floods and droughts, the risks are increasing every day. Recent floods in Pakistan And Libya has destroyed tens of thousands of schools, driven children from their homes and disrupted access to continuing education. In the Sahel and Horn of AfricaProlonged droughts combine with armed conflict and violence, as well as other climatic hazards, to push children out of school and put them at risk.
“Climate and education are inextricably linked. Unfortunately, we see that climate change is having devastating consequences on children’s access to education, particularly in already poor and vulnerable countries. Ethiopia for example, families lose their livestock due to drought. Children are taken out of school and girls are at risk of marriage. Similarly, flooding destroys or closes schools for extended periods, creating learning loss and the risk of children not returning to school. With this contribution, Denmark helps accelerate work to ensure that climate change does not hinder children’s education and that children become more resilient through education,” said Denmark Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen.
“Denmark makes the connection and we hope that all climate change partners will follow. This generous contribution reaffirms that climate change and education are two sides of the same coin. It will catalyze our global efforts to increase quality learning opportunities on the frontlines of the climate crisis and deliver on the promises set out in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. As world leaders converge on climate talks Dubaiwe must follow the visionary leadership of Denmark act here and now, to connect the dots between climate action and educational action. Together, we can now mitigate the human consequences of climate change, empower the most vulnerable children who bear the brunt of climate shocks, and ensure they have the skills they need to adapt to – and manage – the changing environment. Only then can we succeed in creating a climate-friendly and therefore more humane future,” said Yasmine Cherifexecutive director of Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.
The new commitment from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs brings Denmark total contributions to ECW at approx. 155 million US dollars nowadays. With this new funding, ECW and its global partners will provide rapid support to ensure the continuity of learning by rebuilding schools and learning infrastructure after disasters; ensure that children receive holistic educational support, including access to school meals, psychosocial support and water and sanitation facilities; improve disaster risk reduction; and support efforts to protect children from gender-based violence and other serious violations of their human rights.
Refugee and forcibly displaced children face increasing risks. Since 2020, climate shocks have triggered 13 million displacements of school-age children, according to ECW analysis. The new funding will strengthen ECW’s work with the United Nations and civil society partners to meet the needs of these displaced children.
“All children must have access to education. It is the foundation of the ability of children and young people to create a better future for themselves and the next generation. It is absolutely crucial for sustainable development. This is why we urgently need to address the threat of climate change to children’s education and ensure that they receive an education that strengthens their resilience,” said Jørgensen.
In addition to its climate appeal, ECW calls on donors, the private sector and philanthropic foundations to urgently mobilize. 1.5 billion US dollars of total funding for ECW’s 2023-2026 strategic plan.
SOURCE Education Can’t Wait
