As climate change transforms our world, it’s also reshaping education systems, creating an urgent need to develop new skills for future generations.

Recognizing the impacts of climate change are deeply interwoven with issues like public health, gender equality, disability rights and displacement, it’s clear that education must evolve to be inclusive, resilient and adaptable to these intersecting challenges.

Young leaders around the globe are driving this transformation by championing the critical role of education in a climate-changed world. In this blog post, we feature insights from 2 inspiring GPE youth leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what climate-responsive education can look like.

Ayesha from Canada highlights the crucial links between nutrition, education and climate, emphasizing the need for a climate-smart approach to school meal programs. Anjalie from Guyana brings forward a vital perspective on disability and inclusivity, advocating for educational systems that leave no one behind as we adapt to new climate realities.

Together, they show how tailored, inclusive approaches can create a future where every learner has the tools and knowledge to thrive in a changing world and be equipped to resolve the challenges it faces.

Ayesha, Canada

Around the world, school meal programs are a lifeline for over 450 million children, providing a stable and reliable source of nutrition, keeping vulnerable children in school and delivering long-term health and educational benefits.

However, with a worsening global climate crisis, we risk cutting children off from this essential support. Extreme climate events—from droughts to floods—are disrupting food and education systems, especially in lower-income countries, making it difficult to deliver effective nutrition programs.

There can be no school meals if farmers cannot grow their crops during a drought. There can be no school meals if kitchen infrastructure is destroyed by floods.

There can be no school meals if schools cannot provide ventilation needed during heat waves.

In the face of this climate crisis, I want leaders to rethink the role of school meal programs and recognize the incredible opportunity they present to advance climate action and build resilience against climate-induced fragility.

Although school meal programs can contribute to the climate crisis through waste and greenhouse gas emissions, integrating a climate-smart approach can both reduce these harms and drive positive action as it incorporates sustainability into food provision and procurement while educating children to make sustainable food choices throughout their lives.

For example, school meal program policies can encourage sustainable agriculture practices that protect and promote biodiversity.

With many examples from African countries implementing climate-smart school meal programs (see here in Kenya), the global community needs to learn from and increase support for promising approaches to school feeding that are good for the planet and for children.

Anjalie, Guyana

As a young, visually impaired leader and school guidance officer from Guyana, I’m honored to share my perspective on the connection between climate change, education and the well-being of our community.

Recent studies by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have shown that the impacts of extreme weather, flooding and disrupted services affect the most vulnerable, including women, girls, persons with disabilities and the elderly population.

But it’s not just the physical challenges. The emotional toll of climate-related disasters is just as profound.

These events, coupled with the ongoing threat of sea-level rise, have heightened anxiety and stress among the Guyanese population, particularly since the most populated area—the coastal plain—lies below sea level.

Many people are struggling with increased anxiety and depression due to rising temperatures, which can contribute to physical health issues such as heart attacks and strokes among older adults as well as hormonal imbalances in young girls.

Many young people especially are now experiencing rising anxiety, depression and trauma due to climate change, added on to their daily challenges. That’s why I’ve been working closely with the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities to try and create policies and programs that can better protect and support people with disabilities during climate-related emergencies.

One such initiative is the development of accessible evacuation plans for people with disabilities during natural disasters. It’s been a slow process, but I’m hopeful we can make real progress.

At the same time, I believe education has a crucial role to play. By teaching students about climate resilience and mental health care, we can empower them with the knowledge and skills to navigate the impacts of climate change on not just everyday life, but also their hopes for the future.

Making sure our schools are accessible and welcoming to all is essential for building a more just and sustainable world.

As the Guyanese poet Martin Carter said, “We, the people, must be the change we seek in the world.” Through compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to social and environmental justice, I know we can create a Guyana and world that cares for everyone.

Education lets youth lead us to a sustainable future

As Ayesha and Anjalie demonstrate, the intersections of climate and education call for more than just adaptation—they require a transformative rethinking of how education can be a force for resilience, inclusivity and hope.

Their insights remind us that education is not just about learning, but about equipping the next generation to create a world where every person has a place and a voice.