“G20 Environment, Climate and Energy”, Italy’s great ambition: to reconcile environmental protection with progress and human wellbeing –

The challenge in education for adults.

Placing the ecological transition at the centre of the political agenda, and promoting a coordinated and global response to pandemics that is based on science included: combating climate change, accelerating the ecological transition, making financial flows consistent with the Paris Agreement objectives, opportunities for sustainable and inclusive recovery enabled by innovative technological solutions of the energy sector, and building smart, resilient and sustainable cities.

The ecological transition can no longer be postponed and must be socially sustainable. The G20 meeting argues technological shifts and innovations in areas such as clean energy and electric mobility will be crucial towards achieving the goals of the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement. But it also states that without the behavioural change the long-term goal of ‘net zero’ by 2050, to which increasing numbers of nations aspire as the safety line, will be tough to realise – if not impossible.

While most climate change education policies are geared towards the youth, their GHG emissions per capita are relatively low, compared to their elders. In contrast, those over the age of 50 are carrying their high carbon lifestyles into an even older age. The challenge now is to shape non-formal climate change education for adults.

Policies encouraging downsizing, smart city planning, public transit and sustainable food, energy and water systems will have to incorporate education components directly engaging older age cohorts who may be reluctant to alter their behaviours or learn new technologies. Government ministries and departments, businesses, non-governmental organisations and other civil society actors should work with education policy officials to synergise the climate change education policies within their own organisations.