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Linking Education and Climate: Education Resources from Climatelinks

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11 Dec, 2023

This post was originally published on Climate Links

Linking Education and Climate: Education Resources from Climatelinks
jschoshinski
Thu, 12/07/2023 – 16:51

Some of today’s programming at COP28 focuses on the relationship between education and climate change. Climate change negatively affects access to education and impacts learners across the education continuum. Extreme weather events and other climate impacts can block access to schools or close them altogether, reduce household incomes and therefore families’ abilities to invest in education, and interrupt attendance when vulnerable populations are forced to migrate. To maintain and strengthen learning and global education outcomes, resilient education systems at all levels must help learners and the broader education community address, recover from, and overcome climate shocks and stressors. To achieve climate-resilient education systems and climate-resilient learners, climate considerations should be more systematically integrated into education, including understanding how climate change affects education locally, exploring context-specific opportunities and innovative programmatic interventions, and measuring and learning to build evidence of effective practice.

In short, increasing the resilience of education systems and infrastructure can reduce climate risks to education outcomes. At the same time, education systems also can help educate individuals and communities on climate adaptation and encourage future climate action. USAID’s Climate Strategy includes increasing the resilience of the education sector by supporting climate-resilient education systems and non-formal education settings to ensure learning continuity and the development of climate adaptation skill sets, especially for underrepresented and vulnerable populations.

Here are some education resources from Climatelinks to help development practitioners better understand the relationship between education and climate change programming. Some of these resources are also available on EducationLinks.

Advancing Climate-Resilient Education Technical Guidance

The Advancing Climate-Resilient Education Technical Guidance builds on the USAID 2022–2030 Climate Strategy and the 2018 USAID Education Policy to support USAID Missions and partners who seek to integrate climate action and awareness into education programs and are committed to achieving climate-resilient education systems and fostering climate-resilient learners. It outlines how to identify opportunities for climate action that respond to known climate hazards through mitigative, adaptive, and transformative actions.

Climate Risk Management Annex for Education, Social Services, and Marginalized Populations

This annex to the Climate Risk Screening and Management Tools is designed to provide USAID Missions and operating units with more information on climate change implications for education, social services, and marginalized populations.

Mapping Education and Climate Change Indicators

For USAID Missions and Operating Units advancing climate action in and through education, both education and climate change standard indicators may be applicable to their Performance Plan and Report (PPR). To facilitate reporting across these priorities, the Center for Education has mapped education and climate change indicators to different programming examples. These examples show how Missions can report the same output across different indicators.

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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