Education in Climate Change Processes

Abstract

This chapter presents some aspects of education and their contributions to face climate change. Education is a process inserted in a social, economic, and cultural context, in which distinct social groups have different interests, which are often antagonistic. Thus, the education approach assumed here does not consider the neutrality of socio-environmental relations. The analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) carried out here focuses on two objectives and their relationship with the other SDGs: SDG 13, which deals with climate change, and SDG 4, which concerns education. In addition to the fundamentals of education, an intrinsic and dynamic relationship between these objectives is also considered, through an interdisciplinary approach to a better understanding of environmental issues. In the discussion regarding educational processes, some limitations and contradictions are presented for the implementation of sustainable development, according to the current economic logic and the consequent influence on the other SDGs. Analysis of the main environmental catastrophes caused by human beings is also carried out based on the critical and emancipatory foundations of education. Considering the foundations of educational processes and the importance of the SDGs, some challenges for humanity in tackling climate change are also presented. Finally, the need for a critical stance in the analysis of the SDGs is addressed, to rethink sustainable development and establish a new paradigm, so that humanity can live in social, economic, cultural, and environmental balance through effective sustainability.