context: With commitments to carbon neutrality reaffirmed at the 20th Party Congress, Beijing aims to spur momentum in decarbonisation, this time, by highlighting the role of education in top-level design. This is a necessary step toward getting the younger generation on board for a sustainable future.
On 8 November, the Ministry of Education unveiled a roadmap for integrating green and low-carbon development with the education system. The national plan outlines
- key targets
- by 2025
- green and low-carbon awareness developed among students of all levels of education
- programs and courses related to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality set up in higher institutions
- by 2030
- students develop habits of low-carbon lifestyle
- build a multilevel education system guided by green and low-carbon development
- establish world-class programs and research institutes for green and low-carbon development
- by 2025
- integrating green and low-carbon development with education
- curriculum and textbooks
- diversifying education approaches and campaigns
- provide tailored education for students at different stages
- pre-primary education
- compulsory and high school education
- higher education
- vocational education
- professional training for teachers in terms of
- latest developments in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality
- green and low-carbon development requirements
- responsibilities of the education sector
- political and ideological education
- integrating green and low-carbon development education with political and ideological courses
- guiding university students to study low-carbon development through
- lectures on policies
- expert seminars
- discussion forums
- utilising online and offline resources including WeChat public accounts
- programs and courses
- higher institutes to set up a range of disciplines in
- energy storage
- hydrogen
- carbon sink
- green finance
- emissions trading
- carbon capture, utilisation and storage
- vocational education to invest resources in training regarding
- low-carbon building
- photovoltaics
- hydropower
- wind energy
- environmental protection
- encouraging the integration of industries and education
- higher institutes to set up a range of disciplines in
- education activities and campaigns
- developing online education content
- organising online activities
- organising class activities, lectures and competitions
- guiding students to join volunteering programs and conduct field trips and research
- curriculum and textbooks
- enhancing the role of higher education in green and low-carbon development
- R&D
- policy support
- integrating green and low-carbon development with the development and design of campuses
- IT-empowered energy management system
- campus construction and upgrading using energy-saving technologies
- supporting measures