Policies and practices of climate change education in South Asia: towards a support framework for an impactful climate change adaptation

Abstract

South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change. While it has contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, the people in the region face imminent threats to their health and well-being due to extreme weather events and a range of other climate-induced challenges, such as biodiversity loss and monsoon floods. Climate change education (CCE), if properly implemented, can prove to be vital in addressing such challenges and in helping people make informed decisions on adaptation strategies. To this end, this paper explores how CCE is addressed in the climate policies of South Asian countries. The paper also explores the implementation and operationalization of these policies within the respective countries. A content analysis of the climate policies of member states was conducted for the period 2007–2021. The findings revealed that climate change education has been highlighted within individual policies pertaining to formal and informal education, research and development, and public awareness initiatives. However, a gap analysis between policies and practices reveals that significant work is still needed for the effective implementation of policies supporting CCE at local levels. The current study seeks to contextualize these gaps by situating them within the relevant theoretical backdrops. In doing so, the research aims to make a meaningful contribution to the understanding of how CCE can be effectively deployed and delivered towards an impactful climate change adaptation, building on a support framework. Graphical Abstract