Greening Communities Guidance: Lifelong Learning for Climate and Sustainability Action

Climate change poses a serious threat to communities around the world, compelling us to protect vulnerable lives and shape resilient futures. By nurturing lifelong learning and empowering local initiatives, communities can drive transformative change – amplifying local efforts into global impact.

Green communities are municipalities of any size that embrace lifelong learning to empower individuals to take meaningful climate and sustainability action. This is achieved by extending climate education beyond the classroom and offering learning opportunities in non-formal and informal settings – rooted in and responsive to local culture and context. By engaging learners of all ages across a variety of learning environments, residents of green communities are equipped to take informed, proactive and responsible action for the climate and environment, contributing to more sustainable living.

The sections of this document provide an overview of the diverse learners, learning spaces and educational approaches that can contribute to greening communities. It outlines practical steps for developing a comprehensive green learning strategy and action plan that mobilizes learners of all generations in climate and sustainability efforts.

Municipal governments, along with a wide range of local stakeholders and change agents in both urban and rural areas, are invited to use this guidance to foster green communities through a lifelong learning lens.

Together, let’s green our communities!