The Project

Project description

"Young Climate Action for World Heritage" is an international educational project of the Institute Heritage Studies in cooperation with the German Commission for UNESCO. The youth project innovatively combines the topics of UNESCO World Heritage, Education for Sustainable Development and climate change. At six World Heritage Sites, students in international teams from the UNESCO Associated Schools Network and beyond are exploring the following question by using creative and action-oriented methods: How can we take responsibility for the sustainable preservation of World Heritage Sites and for combating climate change locally? The results will be presented at the World Her-itage sites and prepared in a publication for educational actors.

Key task for current and future generations

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the safeguarding of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Protecting World Heritage Sites from climate change while at the same time harnessing their potential for sustainable development is therefore a key task for current and future generations. "Young Climate Action for World Heritage" combines World Heritage Education with the Agenda 2030 and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Dealing with Sustainable Development Goals 4, 11 and 13, students will outline the significance of World Heritage Sites and their threat from climate change in a creative and action-oriented way. The project positions World Heritage Sites as learning places within the framework of ESD and strengthens the cooperation between schools and World Heritage Sites in the long term.

Climate change at World Heritage Sites: Acting together internationally

Students from UNESCO project schools and other schools in Germany and in European partner countries will work at one of six World Heritage Sites:

During one school year, the students deal with the following questions: What does our common heritage mean to us? To what extent is it threatened by climate change or does it help to mitigate it? And most importantly, how can we take responsibility for the preservation of the World Heritage Site and combat climate change locally? The cross-border cooperation of the young people at the World Heritage Sites takes into account that climate protection requires joint international action. A basic principle of ESD - think globally, act locally - can thus be experienced in practice at World Heritage Sites.

Action-oriented and creative: Pupils active for climate protection at World Heritage sites

In the project, the students creatively develop suitable results for their World Heritage site and contribute their own interests and strengths. The spectrum of results can range from artistic-creative formats such as video clips, performances and installations to guided tours or lectures as well as podcasts or newspaper articles. In the implementation of their ideas, they are accompanied in terms of content and pedagogy by their teachers, the National Coordination of UNESCO Associated Schools Network Germany based at the German Commission for UNESCO and the Institute Heritage Studies. In summer 2023, project results will be presented at the World Heritage Sites and in schools. Additionally, the impulses gained around the innovative linking of World Heritage Education and climate change will be prepared in a publication for educational actors and other interested parties.