The education sector and civil society must have a meaningful seat at the table in shaping climate and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) policies.
At the Seventh Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies, held on 29-30 June 2026 in Bangkok, the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) highlighted the critical role of education in advancing integrated climate and development solutions.
The high-level UN conference, co-convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UNFCCC Secretariat, in collaboration with UN ESCAP, brought together governments, civil society, the private sector, and youth to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Representing GCE, Cecilia “Thea” Soriano contributed to discussions on financing and fiscal policy, stressing that education is essential for building people’s capacity to adapt to and mitigate climate impacts. She called for the systematic inclusion of education stakeholders and civil society organisations in climate policy processes at both national and global levels.
GCE’s engagement reinforces the need for inclusive, cross-sectoral approaches that recognise education as a key enabler of climate action and sustainable development.