With historic heatwaves, forest fires and extreme rainfall, the resurgence of meteorological disturbances is validating the global climate emergency. In response to this environmental crisis, Action Education Switzerland is taking concrete action in the field. We are convinced that access to knowledge is the most effective way of protecting our planet.

A crisis that is accelerating and requires immediate responses

Around the world, ecological upheaval is no longer a fiction, but a fact of life. From historic floods in South-East Asia to endemic droughts in West Africa, people are bearing the full brunt of the effects of this disruption. The latest analyses by the IPCC and the United Nations are categorical: without preparing local communities, the human, social and economic damage will become irreversible.

This is precisely where Action Education Switzerland is positioned. By connecting global issues with realities on the ground, our NGO transforms emergency management into sustainable resilience. Learning goes beyond the classroom: it equips people with the tools they need to decode, anticipate and overcome the metamorphosis of their ecosystem.

The education system: a forgotten target and an underestimated solution

The impacts of climate change are hitting the most vulnerable communities in Africa and Asia the hardest. According to UNICEF, the school careers of nearly 250 million minors were disrupted by climatic hazards in 2024 (UNICEF, 2025). The destruction of schools by storms, forced exodus and food insecurity are forcing a massive number of children to drop out of school to support their families.

Yet education remains a strategic lever that is largely neglected by public budgets. Yet it is vital if we are to encourage people to adapt to these new challenges. Raising awareness of the environment and climate not only helps us to understand the situation, but above all to educate the citizens who will build the world of tomorrow.

From Senegal to Cambodia: protecting coastlines and supporting local residents

To make this vision a reality, two of our flagship programmes demonstrate how raising environmental awareness translates into direct conservation action, particularly in the heart of threatened coastal ecosystems.

In Senegal: the Alternatives to Climate Change (ACC) project

The ACC project trains local people in the sustainable management of maritime resources in Senegal. In West Africa, coastal erosion and rising sea levels are directly threatening the survival of coastal populations. Through the ACC project in Saint-Louis, Action Education is introducing local people to soil conservation techniques, crop diversification and eco-responsible management of marine resources. The school becomes the epicentre of a collective dynamic where the transmission of knowledge generates concrete eco-actions.

«We need to integrate the reality of climate change into our action plans and school projects in order to find local solutions. I think the main objective is to raise awareness, especially among children. Mr Ousseynou Sarr, Saint-Louis Education and Training Inspector

In practical terms, «Climate Change Clubs» have been set up in 10 pilot schools. Pupils are taking action in the field: reforestation, school vegetable gardens and the creation of furniture using recycled materials. Beyond the classroom, the programme supports local decision-makers and young people in green jobs (agro-ecology, clean energy) to offset the decline in income from small-scale fishing.

🌍 Also read: Discover our full report In Saint-Louis: education in the face of the climate emergency

In Cambodia: the CO-SAVED project

The CO-SAVED project strengthens the resilience of coastal communities in Cambodia. On the other side of the world, the Consortium for Dynamic and Resilient Schools and Communities (CO-SAVED) project is working on the Cambodian coast. The emphasis here is on safeguarding fragile environments, such as mangroves, and promoting responsible fishing. By incorporating these themes into school curricula and training the local workforce, the project helps families to adapt to climate fluctuations while securing their financial income.

The CO-SAVED project is thus consolidating the viability of these communities. Faced with dwindling fish stocks, Action Education is supporting the financial autonomy of fishermen's groups through economic diversification, particularly ecotourism. The ambition remains clear: to change attitudes so that the country can embrace sustainable and equitable development.

🌍 Read also: Find out in detail how improving the development of coastal communities in Cambodia

Our three pillars of intervention

Action Education is deploying its strategy around three key areas:

• A global and unifying plea As leader of the Education Coalition, our association is campaigning for climate education to become a major political priority, with financial and human resources budgets commensurate with the stakes. We need to work together with communities and ministries to align the roadmaps.
• Betting on youth Children and young people are bearing the full brunt of the current crisis. By giving them the keys to understanding these changes at a very early age, we are equipping them to become clear-sighted players and drivers of the transition.
• Leadership for women While women are often on the front line when it comes to climate-related disasters, they are also the main forces for change. Facilitating their access to training and micro-credit strengthens their influence in local environmental decisions.

«In the Climate Change Club, pupils learn how to protect their environment and then raise awareness among those around them. I don't think adults and young people are sufficiently aware of the issue. Mame Sylla, 4th grader at Collège Bango-Ngallèle in Saint-Louis and President of her school's Climate Change Club

Get involved in environmental education!

At Action Education, we firmly believe that raising awareness of climate issues must be an absolute priority in school curricula worldwide, backed up by concrete investment.

Together, let's use the power of education to shape a more equitable future that respects nature!