Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

This project seeks to empower a generation of climate leaders and facilitate the participation of children as active agents of decarbonization and resilience in their territories. We are creating the first climate-centred educational program that responds to local contexts and challenges in Colombia. Educational spaces are the key to generate real change in behaviours and mentalities, as spaces for dialogue between children and adults. This is where systemic change can happen: Focusing on children can be a catalyst not only to ensure future generations‚ voices are heard in the present, but the starting point of a climate-conscious and resilient civilization.

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

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Colombia‚ population is highly vulnerable to climate change risks, as the third national communication measured: 56% of Colombia‚ departments are in the high risk categories. This vulnerability cumulates with Colombia‚ development conditions: though a middle-income country, it is highly unequal with a rate of monetary poverty at 27% (DANE, 2018), and extreme poverty is expected to have risen to 14.3% in 20202 (ECLAC). 
A substantial fraction of Colombia's forests, particularly in the Amazon and the Pacific, are located in protected areas collective territories of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities and their preservation depends on the recognition of their traditions, and the crucial role they play in defending those ecosystems, and fighting deforestation, both of which are essential for the achieving of the country‚ emission reduction goals. These communities are also the most vulnerable to climate change risks, because of multidimensional poverty, and structural historical inequalities related to conflict that led to poor state services, mistrust in public institutions, and low-quality infrastructure. 
For instance, climate change‚ consequences in the agricultural sector are expected to affect household income, with increased fresh food prices reducing it by 20% (DANE, 2018). Though Colombia‚ population is getting slightly older, it remains quite young with 22,6% being under 14 in the last census (2018). 
Though the country has set climate education in national curriculums as a goal in its last NDC update, it only sets it as a goal for 2030. Our ambition with this project is to empower all the actors in the Colombian education system for climate action, not only through teacher capacity building, which is essential, ir through curriculum reform, but by putting children‚ participation and children-led solutions at the core of the educational offer on climate. This project empowers children living in vulnerable conditions to become changemakers in tackling climate change and addresses climate injustice by giving them tools and knowledge to change their reality and change the mindsets of those around them. Educators from underrepresented communities will also get the chance to improve their knowledge and transmit innovative and local perspectives on climate change education, transforming the curriculum into more than a guide but an empirically tested diverse set of tools for educators outside the scope of traditional climate education. Our program will reinforce equality, gender conscious education will be part of the climate education guide‚ contents, and gender equality training will be included in the educator‚ training materials. 
Children will acquire the knowledge and tools they need to engage in climate change and sustainable development, training for advocacy and civic education, and they will also be the beneficiaries of more sustainable places to learn and live. As sustainability and environmental quality are indicators of social and economic status, this program will allow for improved quality of life and access to goods and services. Guardians will also benefit from their children‚ education and solutions. This project would be the start of a virtuous cycle of change and interaction between adults, children, today‚ , and tomorrow‚ stakeholders.

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