BHPS Staff Attend UNESCO Education, and Climate Change, Learning to Act for People and the Planet Event

On July 11, 2024, two Berkeley Heights Public School staff members had the privilege of attending the prestigious UNESCO, Education, and Climate Change, Learning to Act for People and the Planet event at the Scandinavia House in NYC. Dennis Dagounis, GLHS Assistant Principal/District Green Team Coordinator, and Lara Mendenhall, AP Environmental Science Teacher/Environmental Club advisor, attended the event which is of  great significance in the field of education and climate action and provided a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing.

The event featured a new analysis from the GEM ( Global Education Monitoring ) report and the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education ( MECCE ) Project, based on recent research on the interlinkages between education and climate action. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs participated, providing its perspective on the latest research.

This meeting was the first in a new UNESCO GEM Report series examining the interlinkages between education and the SDGs ( Sustainable Development Goals ). Its analysis finds links between formal education and increased consumption and warns that mainstream educational approaches must be adapted to increase action-oriented learning. The report underscores the importance of partnerships to link education to efforts across other sectors that trigger mutually beneficial impacts for people and the planet.

This meeting was enriched by the diverse perspectives of various speakers, including: Ambassador Camilla Mellander, Consul General of Sweden; Angela Busheska, Youth Climate Activist; Jennifer Williams, Executive Director of Take Action Global; and Aissata Camara, Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff in NYC Mayor's Office. Their unique insights and experiences added depth to the discussions, making the event a truly inclusive platform for climate education.

Dennis Dagounis stated one of the biggest takeaways from this event was, “Anyone, anywhere, can be a climate action teacher; climate education is not just the responsibility of science/ environmental science teachers.  We must teach climate education throughout all disciplines, including ELA through climate fiction novels, and PE teachers can discuss how climate change affects sports and outdoor activities. We have to empower our teachers to inspire our students; GLHS held its second climate symposium this past school year, and many students commented on how powerful this opportunity was in opening their eyes to the intricacies of this problem, just another example of how multiple disciplines can tackle climate change.”

Lara Mendenhall noted that one of the most impactful statements at the event came from Aissata Camara, Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff in NYC Mayor's Office. Ms. Mendenhall shared, “The greatest threat that NYC is facing today is climate change. Education is at the center of this battle. Young people are the most vulnerable to climate change and the most creative. We must empower our students to help solve the issue. Essentially, we need to empower today’s youth to be the leaders of now, not tomorrow. They have the passion and creativity to act, we just need to get out of their way. They have wonderful ideas for school-level change but get discouraged and bogged down in the processes to get things going.”

Mr. Dagounis and Ms. Mendenhall left this meeting, along with various educators from the tristate area, with new ideas and projects for the upcoming school year for Berkeley Heights Public Schools and Governor Livingston High School.

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