“We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!”
– Wangari Maathai

TODAY: Join us for UNEA side event on Education for Nature

We are what we teach: 5 ways education can be re-wired for nature

When: 2 March 2022 at 18:30-19:45 EAT (GMT+3)
Where: Online – Register here!

This event will present 5 cutting edge ideas as to how Universities, student leaders, Olympic sports, the Scout movement and the video gaming industry are all acting to protect and defend nature.

Following their presentations, there will be an exclusive discussion between ministers and high-level government representatives from Egypt, Indonesia, Malawi, UK and Kenya to build out a broader plan for nature. Adam McKay, the film director of Don’t Look Up, will share his valuable insight on what must come next.

The event will tackle the most challenging yet urgent topics to help realize the climate and nature secure future we need. Ideas will be shared around:

1. What do students want from their education? Presented by Teach the Future and MOCK COP
2. How can universities play their part? Presented by the University of Oxford and the Nature Positive Universities Alliance
3. How can sport deliver for nature?  Presented by athlete Melissa Wilson and the International Olympic Committee
4. How can some of the biggest youth movements in the world take action on this? Presented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement
5. How can we make use of popular mediums such as video games to reach people where they are?  Presented by the Playing for the Planet Alliance and Ubisoft

You won’t want to miss this event – we can’t wait to see you there! Register here!

Global Youth Insights Survey: Make Your Voice Heard!

Youth environmental leaders, make your voice heard! Take the first-ever survey of global youth environmental leaders under the age of 25. Your feedback will be included in a new paper commissioned by the UN Environment Programme and produced by nonprofit @lonelywhale.org. All answers are anonymous! Take the survey here!

Apply for the 2022 International Green Gown Awards by 31 March

Apply Today for the 2022 International Green Gown Awards
Inspire and motivate your team, management and students to do more! 

The International Green Gown Awards, in partnership with Allianz Global Investors, and supported by UN Environment Programme, recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges around the globe. The Awards cover all aspects of educational institutions – from their teaching and research, leadership, buildings and food to how students can benefit the quality of life in the communities around them. The Awards provide the sector with benchmarks for excellence and are respected by Governments, funding councils, senior management, academics and students.

The International Green Gown Awards are open to any university or college across the world. Apply today for an Award to open up new opportunities for your institution.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2022.

Sign up for the Nature Positive Universities Initiative

UNEP and the University of Oxford are launching a global network of Nature Positive Universities in order to prompt the prioritization of nature and its restoration within the higher education sector; in their operations and supply chains, on campuses and within the cities where they operate. This network will form a major contribution to the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.

So far, over 300 expressions of interest from universities around the world have been submitted. Please complete this form if you are interested in joining this network!

Reset Earth: New Education Material

In support of World Education Day and teachers looking for new material on environmental awareness and protection, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Ozone Secretariat has tapped into animation and gamification to develop innovative teacher lesson plans and student workbooks.

Targeting tweens (8-12-year-olds) and using the Reset Earth short animations and storylines, the protagonists Knox, Terran and Sagan bring the story of how the ozone layer was saved to life. The toolkits are available online and free of charge on the Ozone Secretariat’s education platform. Specifically designed to cater for the increased demand in quality and innovative virtual learning material, the toolkits have also been adapted for print and the episodes are available in a comic format for universal access.