FEE at COP

The Foundation for Environmental Education has been attending the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) since COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco.

COP17

– Yerevan, Armenia (2026)

19–30 October 2026 | UN Biodiversity Conference

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) will be represented at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, contributing to global conversations on biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and youth engagement.

Through its international network and educational programmes, including #GenerationRestoration Schools, FEE connects local action with global efforts to protect and restore nature. By engaging schools and young people in ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, FEE supports the wider goals of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Stay tuned for updates on FEE's participation, activities, and key highlights from COP17.

COP31
- Antalya, Türkiye (2026)

9–20 November 2026 | UN Climate Change Conference

FEE will join the international community at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, continuing its commitment to advancing climate education and meaningful youth participation in climate action.

Building on its involvement in previous COPs, FEE will highlight the role of education, international collaboration, and community-led initiatives in addressing the climate crisis.

On the Road to COP31

In September 2026, FEE's Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme helped bring together 15 young people in Türkiye for the Earth Skills 101 Youth Camp, organised in cooperation with TÜRÇEV and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Through environmental education, journalism, and hands-on activities, participants explored climate decision-making and the role of young people in shaping environmental conversations ahead of COP31.

Visit an Eco-Schools in Türkiye during COP31

Friday, 13 November 2026 | 09:00-14:00

Join us on 13 November during COP31 for a visit to Halide Edip Adıvar Anaokulu, an Eco-Schools in Antalya, Türkiye. Discover how the school brings sustainability into everyday learning through student-led activities, project-based learning and a whole-school approach to environmental education.

The visit will showcase how the school puts the principles of the Green Education Partnership (GEP) into practice, empowering learners to take action on sustainability and engaging the wider school community. Participants will also visit the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Education and Innovation Centre, recipient of the FEE Best Practice Award, offering further insights into environmental education and sustainability initiatives in Türkiye.

FEE is extremely thankful to TÜRÇEV, the national organisation responsible for planning, coordinating, and organising the visit in Türkiye.

Key information:

Minibus transportation will be arranged for participants, with pick-up at 09:00 and drop-off at the COP31 venue by 14:00. Lunch will also be provided. Please note that transfer times are tentative and may be adjusted according to the final meeting point and traffic conditions.

Meeting point: To be confirmed.

Location of the Eco-Schools: View on Google Maps

Instagram of the Eco-Schools: Halide Edip Adıvar AO (@halidedipadivaranaokulu2023) • Instagram photos and videos

Places are limited to 20 participants. Submitting the form expresses your interest; your place is confirmed only when you receive confirmation from FEE.

Programme

09:00-09:45 Pick-up by minibus from the designated meeting point, which will be communicated to participants whose registration is confirmed, followed by transfer to the school.
09:45-10:00 Arrival and welcome at the school.
10:00-11:00 Eco-Schools visit to Halide Edip Adıvar Anaokulu – School presentations, student activities and sharing of good practices.
11:00-11:30 Transfer to Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Education and Innovation Centre.
11:30-12:30 Visit to the FEE Best Practice Award-winning Environmental Education and Innovation Centre.
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:00 Transfer to the COP31 venue
14:00 Drop-off at the COP31 venue and conclusion of the programme.

Halide Edip Adıvar Anaokulu Eco-Schools

Earth Skills 101 Youth Camp, organised in cooperation with TÜRÇEV and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Earth Skills 101 Youth Camp in Ankara, Türkiye (2026)

Young people have a vital contribution to make at COP: asking questions, sharing their communities’ experiences and helping shape the conversation. Supporting them to be heard starts before they arrive and continues after they leave.

That’s why we’ve launched a new Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Event Guide and Workbook to help them prepare questions, explore different perspectives and bring their learning home.

These resources help young people identify issues they want to explore; capture conversations, perspectives and stories during the event; and reflect on what they have learnt and what they want to communicate back home.

Supporting young voices at COP

Explore the YRE Event Guide and Workbook

No reporting experience is needed. Download the resources, fill them in, capture your experiences, and share your reports or notes with us.

COP30 - Belem, Brazil, Amazonia (2025)

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, FEE’s Members contributed to global discussions on climate action, education and sustainable development.
Across the Blue and Green Zones, FEE programmes including Blue Flag, Green Key and Eco-Schools showcased how environmental education, responsible tourism and strong governance support resilient communities, with Eco-Schools also represented through TeachersCOP and an Eco-Schools teacher award winner.
FEE’s presence highlighted collaboration across countries and sectors, linking local action with global climate goals.
Explore how FEE Members engaged at COP30 and the key reflections from the conference.

More info about COP30

COP29 - Baku, Azerbaijan (2024)

FEE will be represented at COP29 Baku, Azerbaijan by FEE Senior Director of Education Pramod Kumar Sharma.

More info about COP29

COP28 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2023)

FEE’s presence at COP28 built on the Running Out of Time campaign launched around COP27 and its call for universal, quality climate education. The page highlights FEE’s continued work with members and partners to advance this goal through its programmes, projects, and partnerships.

Highlights from COP28

Young Reporters at COP28

On 8 November 2022, we celebrated the completion of the longest non-stop relay ever attempted, as the relay team crossed the finish line at COP27 in Egypt. Over 40 days and across 18 countries, thousands of runners, cyclists, and sailors worked together to pass the relay baton and deliver a message to world leaders calling for universal, quality climate education.

“We are Running Out of Time. Quality climate education is critical if we are to equip people of all ages and in all places with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a future in which all can thrive.”

– Daniel Schaffer, FEE’s CEO

Over the following year, FEE continued to work with its members and partners to deliver on this call for universal, quality climate education through its programmes, projects, and partnerships.

Find here FEE's participation in COP28 events. FEE was represented by:
- Lesley Jones (President)
- Nikos Petrou (Vice-President)
- Daniel Schaffer (CEO)
- Pramod Kumar Sharma (Senior Director of Education)
- Kristina Madsen (Int. Coordinator of Education)
Events
FRIDAY, 1 DECEMBER
National Road Maps and Framework for Realizing Greening Education Partnership in Different Contexts
🕗 12:00-13:00 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub 👉 Join online here.
Integrating Greening Education Partnership for a Green Transition with a Particular Focus on Nature-Based Tourism
🕗 14:00-15:00 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
Climate Change Education: An Early Year’s Perspective
🕗 16:45-17:45 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub

Implementing the Greening Education Partnership in Higher Education: Collaborations and Initiatives
🕗 17:15-18:15 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub 👉 Join online here.
SUNDAY, 3 DECEMBER
Memory of Glaciers: Witness to the Climate Crisis
🕗 15:00-16:00 📍 Blue Zone, China Pavilion
Thursday, 7 December
Global Youth Voices for Climate Justice (Youth Event with Mock COP and Youth Climate Report)
🕗 15:00-17:00 📍 Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Register your interest to participate here.
FRIDAY, 8 DECEMBER
Greening the Future: Environmental Education Initiatives in Central Asia, Uzbekistan
🕗 10:30- 11:30 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
Taking Stock of African Climate Action through Concrete Public/Private Sectors & Youth-led Projects
🕗 11:10- 12:40 📍 Blue Zone, Moroccan Pavilion
Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
🕗 12:00-13:00 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
Boosting Greening Education Partnership
- Session 1: Financing Greening Education
- Session 2: Research to Accelerate Greening Education
- Session 3: Communication and Advocacy for Greening Education
- Session 4: Monitoring & Evaluation for Greening Education
🕗 14:00-18:00 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting (MER) of ACE: An Interactive Workshop
🕗 15:00-16:30 📍 Blue Zone, SE Room 5
SATURDAY, 9 DECEMBER
Green Education is the Key to a Sustainable Future
🕗 11:30-12:30 📍 Blue Zone, Uzbekistan Pavilion
Catalysing Skills Potential for a Green Economy in Africa and the Global South
🕗 13:15-14:45 📍 Blue Zone, SE Room 5 👉 Join online here
Education for a Sustainable Future: Empowering Youth and Children as Environmental Ambassadors
🕗 13:30-14:30 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
SUNDAY, 10 DECEMBER
Greening Schools: The UAE Model and Beyond
🕗 10:30-11:30 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub
Decade of Eco-System Restoration and the Greening Education Partnership: Advancing an Ecocentric Perspective in Educational Systems through ESD
🕗 14:00-15:00 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub 👉 Join online here.
MONDAY, 11 DECEMBER
Unlocking Youth's Potential in Advancing Climate Action through Capacity Building Programs
🕗 13:30-14:30 📍 Green Zone, Education Hub

Delivering on UNFCCC Article 6: Quality and Context-Relevant Climate Change Education for All
🕗 16:45-18:15 📍 Blue Zone, SE Room 7

COP27 - Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (2022)

COP26 - Glasgow, Scotland, Uk (2021)

The theme of COP 26, ‘Together for Our Planet’ provides an important platform to showcase the impacts being created by the network of FEE and explain how each programme is driving the agenda of Climate Action. FEE has prioritised Climate Change, along with Biodiversity Loss and Pollution, as key areas of urgent action for its 10-year strategy – GAIA 20:30.
Through panel presentations, the event will showcase stories of positive actions from around the world. It will bring together voices of different stakeholders such as youth leaders from Eco-Schools, managers of Green Key awarded establishments, municipalities with Blue Flag accredited sites, and Young Reporters for the Environment. It will connect the global impact FEE is creating through stories of change supported by local examples from stakeholders from the UK.
Keynote – Ms Lesley Jones, President FEE
Session Moderator – Mr Daniel Schaffer, CEO FEE
COP26 hosted a YRE exhibition featuring the work of young people aged 11–25 who had been awarded in the annual YRE International Competition. At the time, the YRE programme was implemented in 44 countries around the world, giving young people a platform to take an informed stand on environmental issues through writing, photography, and video.
The exhibition showcased how YRE students used their voices and journalistic skills to highlight real-life environmental issues and solutions and help create positive change.
The exhibition featured the work of 10 young photographers and their photographs.
Ahead of COP26, Eco-Schools England and Keep Britain Tidy launched a call to action to “Make Every School an Eco-School”, highlighting the role schools and young people could play in tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions.
The campaign called on educators, parents, local authorities, and policymakers to support greater environmental education in schools. It also advocated for climate education to be more deeply embedded in the curriculum and for Eco-Coordinators to receive greater support for leading youth-led environmental action. More info here

COP25 - Madrid, Spain (2019)

YRE Students interviewed many key people about topics ranging from climate emotions, carbon dioxide emissions, ocean biodiversity

YRE student Interview with Zitouni Ould Dada from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

YRE Interview with co-founder of Altekio Conchi Piñeiro on Climate Change and Emotions. Interview by Young Reporter Ishbel Cora Rodriguez

Interview with Federico Buyolo, General Director of of the 2030 Agenda- by the YRE Ishbel Cora Rodriguez

Interview with climate activist Marie Christina Kolo on Climate Change and Gender, by the YRE Ishbel Cora Rodriguez

Interview with Professor William Moomaw

Interview with Cristian Laborda, Head of Oceanic Affairs Department, Chile

COP24 - Katowice, Poland (2018)

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) was once again highly active at COP. Each year, our engagement had grown, and we were proud to have been part of this important conference, contributing to discussions and actions to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Together with UNFCCC and UNESCO, FEE organised two special events at COP24. Find below

The workshop aims to equip participants with the skills to create stories in Climate Change that will initiate positive action. The event will be facilitated by Gosia Luszczek (YRE International Director). Quinn Kanaly and Noel Dockstader (Directors of Point of No Return) are invited as guest speakers.
Background
As noted in the Doha work programme on Article 6, media plays an important role in increasing public awareness on climate change and encouraging contributions and personal action in addressing climate change. However, the complexity and seriousness of climate change often lead to stories that evoke negative emotions including anxiety and hopelessness which discourage people from taking action.
One way of dealing with this issue is through the use of Constructive Journalism. Within this term lies the idea that media stories should be solution-based and should provide audiences with a fair, accurate and contextualised picture of the world, instead of focusing on negative and conflict-based stories.
It is important to involve and educate people, particularly youth, in these issues and to increase their ability to create and critically reflect on stories related to Climate Change. Youth Leaders in particular have the opportunity to use media platforms to educate and influence others. Therefore, they should be aware of the power of their messages and understand how to report on climate change subjects in a constructive way in order to initiate positive changes and help build responsible communities.
Objectives
1. To initiate a discussion about the power of media and how stories on climate change can either encourage or discourage communities to act.
2. To unfold how critical thinking and constructive journalism can be used to educate communities on climate change and initiate positive action.
3. To develop a set of principles for how youth can use media as a tool to promote climate change education and initiative positive changes.
Outcome
1. A cadre of young people trained on constructive journalism as a key component of media litteracy.
2. A discussion between different stakeholders on how climate change issues can be presented in media to encourage communities to act.
3. A set of principles for how youth can create stories on climate change that will promote climate change education and action.
4. Practical implementation following the workshop: The young participants will be asked to create two stories during COP; one that applies the principles and one that does not. Readers of the two stories will then be asked to describe the feelings that the stories evoked in them. These activities and learnings will be used to adjust and refine the set of principles.
Format and Participants
An open training workshop including youth leaders, young journalists, media professionals, educators, climate change experts, and other stakeholders interested in the discussion.
Venue: Climate Action Room 2
Workshop Facilitators
Gosia Luszczek (YRE International Director)
Quinn Kanaly and Noel Dockstader (Directors of Point of No Return).
The aim of the Round Table Discussion is to develop a set of recommendations that is actionable by different stakeholders and will contribute to the implementation of ACE. Daniel Schaffer (CEO of FEE) will moderate the event and Pramod Sharma (Senior Director of Education) along with invited experts will contribute with their knowledge on the topic.
Background
There is widespread agreement that Education is fundamental in order to effectively respond to the challenges we all face due to Climate Change. To achieve the goals set out by the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), education has to deliver both; awareness of the dangers being faced due to climate change and action competence to respond through adaptation and mitigation actions. At the same time, the technological solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change are creating entrepreneurship opportunities and jobs. This requires education to also enable the transformation through equipping people with the necessary skills.
Ms. Christiana Figueres, the former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, identified climate change as a cross cutting issue and emphasized the need to not only study climate change, but to understand it by embedding it in the DNA of today’s very education concept to be able to understand the transformation and to be able to act on it.
Education about Climate Change is challenging. One aspect of the challenge is communicating the complex science of Climate Change and the other is to motivate people to take the actions required to adapt and mitigate for the diverse impacts it is having. The challenge for getting people to act through education is difficult as changes are perceived to be small and gradual and similar to what people have experienced, though in different intensities and frequency in their life time. Since the impacts of actions will not be visible in short time, the level of commitment required for persisting with the behaviours is of high order. Educational messages and processes need to be for diverse stakeholders living in diverse cultural, economic and geographical contexts.
Education stakeholders around the world who work with various target groups, in both formal and non-formal settings, are taking up this challenge and facilitate learning that leads to Positive Actions! The side event will discuss lessons learned and good practices in CCE. The deliberations and discussions should benefit the review of the Doha work programme on Article 6 in 2020. The session will also deliberate on the monitoring and evaluation of impacts of the educational activities that has been recognised as a challenge.
Objectives of the Session
1. Identify gaps and needs for implementation of ACE.
2. Discuss the challenges based on the experience of Climate Change Education projects/programmes in both formal and non-formal settings.
3. Deliberate upon the approaches of teaching and learning like socio-emotional learning, behavioural change education, project-based learning etc.
4. Identify experiences and learnings both from academicians and practitioners to contribute to a curricula framework that meets the educational rigor for ACE.
5. Suggest key features for an assessment and evaluation framework for Climate Change Educational programmes.
6. Recommendation for Quality Climate Change Education for ACE.
Outcome
A set of recommendations that is actionable by different stakeholders and will contribute to the implementation of ACE.
Format and Participants
A round table discussion with around 25-35 identified experts, representing governments, private sector/business, media, NGOs, researchers, curriculum developers, practitioners, formal and non-formal educators and teachers, climate scientists, policy makers, youth, school/college leaders, SDG champions for each of the SDGs, indigenous communities, etc.
Moderator: Mr Daniel Schaffer (CEO of FEE)
Venue: Climate Action Room 2
Download the Roundtable Discussion Report

Young Reporters at COP24

YRE International also sent six young reporters to participate in COP24. They reported on the events and created journalistic pieces on topics related to climate change.

YRE Students Interviewing Bertram Piccard