G LO B A L E D U C AT I O N M O N I TO R I N G R E P O R T 2 0 1 6 SUMMARY Local and indigenous knowledge have contributed to ecosystem functioning, disaster early warning systems, and climate change adaptation and resilience. The Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative in the United States, in which students interact with indigenous elders, is an example of schools learning from indigenous knowledge. Providing school instruction in local languages also contributes to knowledge sharing between generations. LIFELONG LEARNING APPROACH: LEARNING THROUGH WORK AND DAILY LIFE Beyond formal education, government agencies, religious organizations, non-profit and community groups, labour organizations and the private sector can all help change individual and collective behaviour. Government-backed campaigns can raise awareness of an environmental problem, point to its causes and signal how people can solve it. In 2015, the Ethiopian government and partners launched a two-year public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging solar lighting products. Religious, cultural and social leaders can help spread environmentally sound values and behaviour. Workplace is essential centre for environmental learning. Companies have launched initiatives to reduce their ecological footprints and educate staff and the public about environmental protection. A 2008 Economist Intelligence Unit survey reported that over 40% of global executives thought it important for their companies to align sustainability with their business. Labour organizations have also promoted more sustainable workplace practices. Through public information campaigns, projects, partnerships and green alliances, non-government organizations (NGOs) play a vital part in mobilizing public support for conservation. Web-based campaign groups such as Avaaz, which has 44 million members in 194 countries, help raise awareness on the environment with initiatives such as a two-year campaign to ban bee-killing pesticides. COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LEARNING Education enhances people’s resilience to climate-related risks. It also encourages their support for and involvement in mitigation actions. Broadening access to education is more effective against climate change effects than investment in infrastructure such as sea walls and irrigation systems. Female education reduces disaster-related fatalities. Projections show that if education progress stalled, future disaster-related fatalities would increase by 20% per decade. Communities most at risk from climate-related events are If education generally in countries where educational attainment is low and unequal. progress stalled, future disasterrelated fatalities would increase by 20% per decade Education can help communities prepare for and adapt to climate-related disasters. A study on Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti found that lack of education and low literacy rates prevented people from understanding disaster warnings. In the Philippines, local communities worked with education officials and other partners to teach young people about climate change adaptation, which helps build community resilience. 13