The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, adopted in 2015, demonstrates the commitment of countries to jointly keep the global temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to strive to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, nearly a decade later, the reality shows that achieving this goal remains far off. Without strong and practical actions, the consequences of climate change, including extreme weather events and disasters, will continue to threaten human lives now and in the future. In many parts of the world, climate change is no longer a distant prospect but a present reality, as exemplified by the century storm Yagi in Viet Nam or Hurricane Boris in Europe.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized, “Education is the single most important investment any country can make. It is the bedrock of informed, tolerant societies, and a primary driver of sustainable development”. In the face of the climate crisis, the role of education in empowering our youth is more critical than ever. Climate change education enables the youth - who will face the direct consequences of climate change in the future - to understand climate change impacts, helping them make informed decisions not only for their own lives and careers but also for the future of our planet.

The Youth Engagement for a Sustainable Future: Strengthening Climate Change Education in Viet Nam Report, prepared by thirteen authors of the Youth4Climate Policy Working Group (YPWG) Climate Change Education Team with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme in Viet Nam, highlights five key recommendations to strengthen climate change education for key stakeholders. These recommendations include integrating green career skills into high school curriculum, providing greater support for experiential learning, expanding access to knowledge platforms like the Climate Learning Hub, increasing investment in youth-led start-ups, and accelerating partnerships with local and grassroots organizations.

Importantly, these efforts should also target young people living in remote and rural areas to narrow inequalities and ensure no one is left behind. Authors remind us that climate action requires creativity, courage, and boldness: important traits that young people should be equipped with from school. Addressing climate change requires not only strong actions but also informed and strategic approaches. Educating Vietnamese youth about climate change empowers future leaders who will lead the country to sustainable development and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.