The Ministry of National Education carries out multi-dimensional activities as a part of the Climate Change Action Plan.

 

The Zero Waste project supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's spouse Emine Erdoğan included a series of activities in order to maintain a sustainable environment for children. 29,400 schools were awarded with "zero waste" certificates, zero waste libraries were founded at 1,325 schools and 9 million students attended zero waste training programs.

 

As a part of the environment, the Ministry constructed 1,000 environmentally friendly schools, included environmental education and climate courses to the education program, organized climate change training programs for teachers and trained teachers in 30 cities about air pollution.

  

It is planned to carry these activities to a higher level with the Climate Change Action Plan. New goals are collected under seven main titles in order to plan these activities in cooperation with stakeholders and develop suggestions. These titles are "awareness programs in education institutions about the impacts of climate change", "disasters that may occur due to climate change and measures against such disasters", "energy productivity and energy conservation", "protection of water sources and water conservation", "air, water and soil pollution", "recycle and zero waste" and "impact of climate change on environment and public health".

 

As a part of the action plan, education programs will be updated in order to provide conformity with environment and climate change policies and in line with sustainable development goals. The Ministry will cooperate with all state and private institutions and agencies in order to increase the use of clean energy sources. All schools will become environmentally friendly buildings.

   

Insulation of all school buildings will be completed and devices with low energy consumptions will be used at schools. Actions aiming at decreasing greenhouse gas emission will be implemented at schools and other education institutions.

 

The Ministry will establish an "Environment and Climate Change Commission" as a part of awareness activities. The Ministry will also prepare a "school-food agreement" document and this document will define conditions and number of school cafeterias.

  

The Ministry will produce original and updated digital contents about environment and climate change and reach the target group through a joint digital platform which will also include sources, best examples and implementations about environment and climate change.

 

"Environment and Climate Change Dictionary" will be prepared and cultural activities will be organized in cooperation with stakeholders in order to raise awareness. It is decided to change "Environmental Protection Week" to "Environment and Climate Change Week" and celebrate "World Water Day". The Ministry will organize awareness activities about the impact of climate change on disasters as a part of "November 12 Disaster Training Day". 

 

Candidate teacher training programs  

The Ministry will organize training programs about environment and climate change awareness and update training programs for candidate teachers in line with sustainable development goals.

 

The Ministry will plan climate literacy training programs for families and also organize training program preparations about illness occurring due to climate change according to the information and data which will be provided by the Ministry of Health.

 

Innovative implementations such as zero waste boxes, composite machines, agricultural practice areas, air quality measurement devices, gray water storage units will be placed in the schools as a part of physical capacity reinforcement.

 

Energy Management Department workers will carry out monitoring and assessment activities about electricity, water and natural gas consumptions.

  

Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer stated in his forward of the Climate Change Action Plan that the climate change concept emerged as the most important environment problem of every individual, society and country in various different reports.

 

Noting that education has an important place in the solution of global problems, Özer said, "Education system must be updated according to the 'Education for Sustainable Development' approach in line with the 'Sustainable Development Targets of the United Nations' and transition to green society must be prepared urgently in addition to keeping pace with social, technological, ecological and political developments of 21st century such as climate change."

 

Minister Özer stressed that education is crucial for both emission reduction and adaptation to climate change.

   

"Climate change education established its own identity in all levels of education varying from preschool to higher education. Within this framework, the main purpose of climate change education is to raise environmentally sensitive individuals who knows the basic principles of climate system, uses reliable information based on scientific facts about climate in order to reduce the impacts of climate change to minimum, makes conscious decisions and acts in a way that he could contribute to the sustainable development. Moreover, this education aims at blending climate change goals with the national development policies, disseminating energy productivity activities, using clean and renewable energy sources, maintaining low carbon emission and increasing quality of life. Our main goal is to introduce this culture to our children in order to leave a more livable world to our children, guaranteeing our future," Özer said.

 

Minister Özer reminded that the Environment Education and Climate Change Course is included in the education program of the 2022-2023 school year.

 

Noting that education plays a key role in the fight against climate change and green transition goals, Özer added:

 

"It is our main goal is urgently implement preventive actions against adverse conditions caused due to climate change and support efforts to limit global warming with 1,5 centigrade degrees; protect water, soil and air quality; preserve biological diversity and water sources; set zero waste goals and raise our children as responsible individuals who are prepared for the problems that may occur due to climate change and who are capable of finding innovative solutions."