When people hear the words climate education, they often imagine something very formal. Perhaps they think about large-scale conferences, in-depth scientific reports, complicated policies, or huge international organisations discussing global challenges! In reality, climate education often begins with something much simpler. It might mean a teacher deciding to organise an outdoor lesson for pupils, or a school starting recycling initiatives amongst its students. It might mean school pupils planting trees together and young people learning how their everyday choices affect the environment around them.
While all of the above is heartening, actually, many European educators still don’t realise that there’s actually a growing European community connecting people who care about these exact topics — and every country has its own space to do so within it.
The Education for Climate Coalition
The European Commission’s Education for Climate Coalition created dedicated country communities where teachers, schools, organisations, youth workers and education professionals can exchange ideas, projects and experiences related to climate education. This may be one of the most useful yet underrated resources for schools involved in Erasmus+ projects.
Climate Education Is No Longer “Optional”
A few years ago, environmental topics were often treated as an “extra activity” in schools. Something nice to include if there was enough time. However, today things couldn’t be more different! Students in particular are asking more questions about climate change than they have ever before! They’re questioning how their schools could become more sustainable and why climate change affects everyday life. They’re also asking what young people can do about helping to reduce the impact of climate change and how technology and innovation could help too. Other questions that they ask is what sustainability looks like in real professions and the workplace.
What’s more, teachers are also under growing pressure to introduce these themes into lessons, projects, and mobility activities and many educators face the same challenge, that is where to even start! After all, not every teacher is a climate expert. This is exactly why communities like the Education for Climate Coalition matter so much. This community creates a space where people learn from each other in a practical and realistic way.
A European Network That Feels Surprisingly Personal
One of the nicest things about these country groups is that they don’t feel cold or institutional. Instead, they feel like a meeting point for people who genuinely care about improving education. Within the network there are many examples of school initiatives and project ideas. There are also discussions surrounding sustainability as well as invitations to join webinars and attend events. For teachers, there are multiple resources, examples of best practices and opportunities for cooperation with schools from other countries. As every country has its own community space, discussions often feel much more relevant and connected to local realities. For example, a school in Spain may discuss heatwaves and water conservation, whereas a
school in Austria might focus more on sustainable transport.
Schools in Serbia or other Balkan countries could exchange ideas about waste management, eco-awareness, or sustainable tourism. Of course, different countries face different challenges which is exactly what makes the exchange valuable.
Erasmus+ and Climate Education Go Hand in Hand
Anyone who has worked with Erasmus+ projects in recent years has probably noticed how strongly sustainability has become connected with mobility projects. Green practices are no longer just a “bonus point” in applications. They are becoming a real part of project quality. So, Erasmus+ applications regularly include examples of environmental workshops, sustainable travel discussions, eco-friendly activities, recycling initiatives, outdoor learning, climate awareness campaigns and digital solutions that reduce paper use.
However, the most successful projects are usually not the ones that try to sound perfect on paper. They are the projects where sustainability becomes something students can actually experience. For example, students using public transport abroad for the first time, or learning how another country approaches recycling. Students could also be sent to visit local farms and see first-hand sustainable tourism practices. Other initiatives include discussing environmental habits with students from other cultures and understanding how climate issues affect everyday life differently across Europe. These are the experiences students remember.
Young People Learn Best Through Experience
One thing we often notice during Erasmus+ mobilities is that students become much more environmentally aware naturally simply because they are exposed to new ways of living. Sometimes, it’s the little things such as taking short showers at their accommodation and separating their waste correctly for recycling purposes, using reusable water bottles and walking rather than taking public transport (or cycling instead).
It can also be the bigger things too! For example, students begin to understand that sustainability is not just theory from a textbook. Rather it becomes connected to real life, workplaces, cities, tourism, agriculture, hospitality and even communication between people. For example, a hospitality student could pick up tips on how hotels reduce their food waste. Or a tourism student might learn the value of sustainable tourism. Agricultural students could explore new eco-friendly farming techniques and future chefs expand their minds on locally sourced products and responsible consumption. This is why climate education works best when it feels practical and human.
Teachers Also Need Support
We often talk about preparing students for the future, but teachers continue their own learning along the way. Many educators want to introduce sustainability topics into their classrooms, but they have heavy workloads which means there’s limited time. Finding reliable resources or partners can sometimes feel overwhelming. This is why international communities matter because they remind teachers that they are not alone. Sometimes, just one simple conversation with another school can inspire an entirely new project idea. Or, seeing how another teacher organises a workshop gives someone the confidence to try something similar in their own school. Other times, educators simply need reassurance that small actions still matter!
Climate Education Is Not About Perfection
It’s important too to remember that climate education isn’t about perfection. Schools don’t need to become “perfect green institutions” overnight. It’s not about having all the answers but it is about creating awareness, encouraging curiosity and helping young people to really consider the world around them and develop responsible habits. Even small initiatives can have a strong impact, for example:
The goal isn’t perfection! It’s participation.
Europe Is Building Something Bigger Together
One beautiful thing about Erasmus+ and European educational cooperation is that they constantly remind us of something important and that schools across Europe face many of the same challenges. Climate change is one of the few topics that connects everyone, regardless of language, country, or educational system. A teacher in Valencia, Vienna, Malta, or Belgrade may work in different ways, but they all share the same responsibility of preparing young people for the future. That future requires adaptability, responsibility, international cooperation, digital skills and environmental awareness. So, climate education is no longer separate from education itself, it’s becoming part of how we prepare students for modern life.
A Community Worth Exploring
The Education for Climate Coalition country groups are a simple but powerful idea. They create a space where schools, teachers, organisations and education professionals can exchange ideas and support each other while working toward a more sustainable future. Perhaps the most encouraging part is that no school need do everything alone. Sometimes inspiration begins with one conversation, one workshop, one mobility project or one small initiative shared between educators from different countries. That’s how European cooperation often works best, step by step, person by person, school by school. Maybe that’s exactly how meaningful climate education begins too!
Talk to Us
If you are interested in sustainable Erasmus+ work or study placements for your students then get in touch with the TravelEdventures team by clicking here. Together, let’s put together something incredible while protecting the environment we live in.