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Designed to ignite curiosity and inspire action, the guide offers practical activities that allow learners to connect with nature and understand the importance of sustainability. 

This is what you need to know about the new guide. 

UNESCO unique network of designated sites plays a vital role in building resilience to climate change and reconnecting people with nature.

The network includes , 759 biosphere reserves, 213 global geoparks, and 113 .

These sites span a total area of 10 million km2, roughly 6% of the earth’s surface. Some 300 million people, including many indigenous communities, live within these sites. 

These UNESCO sites are crucial in addressing global crises such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which threaten current and future generations. Through hands-on learning experiences and place-based learning by doing, the sites provide valuable opportunities for climate and ocean literacy, as well as environmental values and skills. Through this awareness, learners are empowered to adopt sustainable practices that consider environmental, economic and social factors. 

The guide encourages climate and environmental actions, demonstrated through on-going projects at UNESCO sites around the world. It also provides educators with strategies to help learners experience sustainable development in their local contexts through these sites and water museums.

Additionally, it offers practical suggestions and ideas for teachers and educators on how to mobilize and collaborate with the UNESCO-designated sites to create meaningful learning activities tailored to specific contexts.  

The guide is part of UNESCO’s efforts to promote education for sustainable development and make every learn climate ready. Aligned with UNESCO’s Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development, it highlights the importance of using outdoor spaces, like UNESCO sites, to teach sustainability and climate change for a sustainable future. 

The new guide contains a wealth of proposed activities, centered around UNESCO sites, for both educators and learns to explore. These include learning interactions, quizzes, simulations, and storytelling, as well as guided hikes and week-long stays at a school camp! 

Some examples are: 

In Argentina, the revolves around the Mar Chiquita lagoon, the heart of the community. The school’s ‘Earthship’ design brings the building close to the shore and teachers engage students with workshops on gardening and lead student-led tours, fostering a deep connection to the lagoon and offering hands-on learning experiences.  

In Burkina Faso, Africa’s first opens educational opportunities to address gender inequality in daily chores such as women spending hours fetching water – time that could be spent studying, working  or resting. Through workshops about the water cycle and the “Water and Women” space, the museum highlights this inequality, educating young people to embrace equal treatment and opportunities for all.

In the People’s Republic of China, volunteers contribute to the management and development of the , promoting awareness of the United Nations sustainable development Goal 13 on climate action. The project also supports disadvantaged children and their families through youth learning communities’ activities in both urban and rural settings. Additionally, it includes educational initiatives like campus-based natural science outreach and donation of natural books to schools.

In Indonesia, at , local communities participate in initiatives focused on Geopark conservation, education and promotion. Empowerment programmes include raising awareness about waste management, organizing beach clean-ups, offering surfing lessons for students and engaging in activities related to reducing plastic use. 

In Italy, learners are exposed to the Lagoon project, where children aged 3-5 in Venice connect with the lagoon and nature through drawing activities, collaborative games, small science experiments. Local natural scientists and artists guide children in creating papier-mâché masks inspired by lagoon animals and designing ‘nature books’.

In Yemen, students collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from the , to study ocean biodiversity and climate change impacts. Island elders nurture plans through community-led plant nurseries and mangrove replanting, which helps restore fish populations. The archipelago now serves an educational hub, showing visitors and schools about the importance, history and folklore of the mangroves on the island.