EARLALL contributes to EU consultation on climate learning and democratic citizenship
20/10/2026
On 19 October 2026, EARLALL contributed to a consultation exploring the links between climate learning and democratic citizenship. The session will inform guidance on education for democratic citizenship and a competence framework on its EU dimension, both commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC).
The discussion highlighted three practical considerations. First, learning should help people move from awareness of climate issues to understanding who takes decisions and how they can participate. Local issues such as transport or energy can provide starting points for exploring responsibilities at local, regional, national and European levels.
Second, educators need practical support to address controversial issues, assess digital information and connect learners’ experiences with the EU dimension. This includes helping learners evaluate evidence, discuss different perspectives and identify opportunities to contribute to public decisions.
Third, activities need to fit existing learning settings. Accessible materials, adaptable formats and manageable demands on educators’ time are important for putting citizenship education into practice, including in VET and adult learning.
These themes connect with EARLALL’s focus on democratic engagement, citizenship and social inclusion in lifelong learning. Regional and local authorities can help connect education providers, communities and decision-makers, making learning relevant to the challenges people experience in their daily lives.
EARLALL has also participated in consortia submitting Horizon Europe proposals addressing related themes. These include integrating civic and AI literacy into VET and adult learning, and investigating how digital and media literacy can translate into critical information practices and democratic participation. While these proposals are not yet funded projects, they reflect EARLALL’s interest in strengthening the contribution of lifelong learning to democratic participation.