Türkiye joins UNESCO Greening Education Partnership

Türkiye has become the 100th country to join UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership (GEP). This milestone was highlighted during the Second Green Resilience Summit, where Prof. Dr. Şerife Gündüz discussed the progress of the Green Schools Program. Now in its fifth year, the program has expanded to over 100 schools across Cyprus, Turkey, and London, focusing on biodiversity and water conservation.

Minister Yusuf Tekin emphasized that education is the most powerful tool for addressing the climate crisis, as lasting solutions require fundamental changes in human thought and lifestyle. He noted that Turkey’s updated educational framework, the ‘Türkiye Century Maarif Model’, aims to foster generations that respect democracy, human rights, and the environment.

Looking ahead, the Green Schools Program will be represented at the COP31 Green Zone in Antalya. Minister Tekin also highlighted that Turkey’s Climate Change Action Plan, following its 2022 publication, has moved into advanced stages with specific targets set for the 2026–2030 period.