First symposium on "School-family-society synergy in climate change education"

On December 12, 2023, in order to actively promote the collaborative development of climate change education in schools, families and society, to discuss educational strategies to address the challenges of climate change, and to seek ways to educate human beings to live in harmony with nature, the first seminar on "Collaborative Development of Climate Change Education in Schools, Families and Societies" was held at Mingqiang Primary School of Qibao, Minhang District, Shanghai. The organizers of the conference included two major university research institutes, the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education of East China Normal University and the Institute for Basic Education Reform and Development of East China Normal University, the Education Bureau of Minhang District of Shanghai, the Education Development Promotion Association of Qibao Town of Minhang District of Shanghai, and government departments and professional organizations, such as the People's Government of Qibao Town of Minhang District of Shanghai, and the Meteorological Popularization and Education Committee of Shanghai Meteorological Association, and co-organizers included the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. Professional organizations, co-organizers include Shanghai Minhang District Meteorological Bureau, Shanghai Qibao Middle School and many other schools. The cross-departmental and cross-regional organization fully reflects the comprehensive nature of this conference.

The content shared in this conference is rooted in research in primary and secondary schools, vocational institutions, community education organizations, and general colleges and universities, which has undergone practical tests and highlighted academic dialogues. The experts, teachers and principals who participated in this workshop shared rich research findings that resonated strongly with the participants. Through this meeting, the participants reached the following consensus on how to promote climate change education.

First, climate change education needs to emphasize the power of synergy. Participants in this meeting included government departments, professional societies, research institutions, universities, schools, colleges, community colleges, public interest organizations and media organizations, reflecting the full importance attached to this theme by society as a whole. Weng Yongyuan, Deputy Director of the Meteorological Bureau of Minhang District, Shanghai, pointed out that the formation of a meteorological education community through cooperation between schools and communities has greatly facilitated the development of climate change education.

Secondly, climate change education needs to highlight the wisdom of education. Representatives from schools, universities, vocational colleges, and community education institutions shared colorful and practical results, fully reflecting the educational wisdom embedded in this field. Ralf Behrens, Director of the Department of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development, Ministry of the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture, Hamburg, Germany, and Jürgen Forkel Schubert, Senior Advisor, UNESCO Learning City Hamburg, Germany, also proposed that educators continue to pay attention to this field of research and help students and parents to develop a green lifestyle and increase their sensitivity to sustainable development through climate change education. Through climate change education, we aim to help students and parents to develop a green lifestyle, to become more sensitive to sustainable development, to emphasize the qualities of knowledge and action, and to put the new concepts into practice in their daily lives.

Once again, climate change education requires a foundation of research. One of the organizers of this conference, the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education of East China Normal University, has continued to invest in education for sustainable development, focusing on new research and development on climate change education. Professor Li Jiacheng, Executive Vice President of the Institute, has just finished organizing and participating in a side event on climate change education in Dubai, and shared the Institute's latest research results in this conference, expressing his sense of mission for research institutions to participate in climate change education. Representatives of primary and secondary schools, vocational colleges and community education institutions attending the conference have been taking a research-based approach to summarize experiences, analyze problems and strategically advance to form an autonomous body of knowledge in their field.

The meeting also gave high prominence to the need of the times for lifelong learning for all. Participants repeatedly emphasized that, based on the building of a global community of destiny, in the context of Chinese-style modernization, and in the context of global dialogue and cooperation, everyone needs to learn about climate change and practice the concept of green production and living. Several conference delegates emphasized the need to form new values, build complex thinking, develop diverse capacities and accumulate rich knowledge.

Professor Li Jiacheng of East China Normal University believes that, as the first symposium, this conference not only brings together rich practical and theoretical results from all over the country, but also opens up a brand new space for educational research, will realize a more productive international cooperation in the context of global dialogues, and will continue to form the Chinese experience, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese power in this field.