Proceedings of the 12th WEEC in Abu Dhabi now officially published

We are pleased to announce that the proceedings of the 12th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), organized jointly with the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, held in Abu Dhabi from January 29 to February 2, 2024, have been published and are freely available online.

📥 Download the full proceedings here:
👉 WEEC 2024 Proceedings PDF

 


About WEEC 2024

WEEC 2024 reaffirms the critical role of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in humanity’s transformation toward a more sustainable world.

Held in Abu Dhabi, the Congress offered meaningful opportunities to connect educators, researchers, policymakers, and activists from across the globe to share, learn, and engage in dialogue around the latest developments in environmental and sustainability education.

The event explored education at all levels —formal, non-formal, and informal — and welcomed a rich variety of contributions. In addition to academic and practitioner abstracts, the Congress also embraced creative and interactive formats, including fiction, performances, games, and participatory workshops that reflected the diversity and innovation within the EE and ESD fields.


About the Proceedings

The published proceedings span over 400 pages, showcasing the intellectual and creative contributions that made WEEC 2024 such a dynamic event.

The document is structured around four thematic clusters:

  • The Challenges: addressing the triple planetary crisis—climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—and the water-food-energy nexus.

  • The Goals: highlighting global and local strategies for sustainability education, including school-based initiatives, ecosystem restoration, and engagement with the SDGs.

  • The Dimensions: exploring values, cultural diversity, indigenous knowledge, and the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of environmental education.

  • The Means: focusing on tools and strategies, such as artificial intelligence, early childhood education, and innovative technologies for environmental learning.

Each section includes a range of case studies, academic papers, and experiential learning models, offering both theoretical insights and practical applications from diverse global contexts.


Recognizing the Socio-scientific Committee

A special acknowledgment goes to the International and Local Socio-scientific Committee, whose dedicated work was instrumental to the success of WEEC 2024.

Their efforts included:

  • Reviewing over 700 submissions;

  • Acting as national and international liaisons;

  • Defining the Congress’s thematic structure;

  • Coordinating thematic niches and parallel sessions to ensure coherence and inclusiveness.

Their guidance greatly contributed to the scientific depth and overall coherence of the Congress, as clearly reflected in the breadth and quality of the published proceedings.


We hope this publication will serve as a valuable resource for educators, researchers, institutions, and all stakeholders committed to advancing sustainability through education. It is a testament to the global community’s shared commitment to ecological awareness, knowledge exchange, and transformative learning.

Stay connected with the WEEC Network as we continue moving forward — toward WEEC 2026 and beyond.

Environmental education day: a long history, a shared path towards the future. 50 years of the Belgrade Charter

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Belgrade Charter, the result of an international workshop held in Belgrade (see attached report) from October 13 to 22, 1975, with participants from 60 countries, preparatory to the 1977 Tbilisi Intergovernmental Conference.

The workshop provided the first implementation of Recommendation No. 96 of the Stockholm Conference, which called on United Nations organizations and other international agencies to develop an international interdisciplinary environmental education program for all age groups.

We therefore renew our invitation to organize initiatives of any kind (school and outdoor activities, seminars and webinars, etc.) and/or to dedicate activities already planned for the month of October to World Environmental Education Day, to celebrate the anniversary, prepare for the fiftieth anniversary of Tbilisi in 2027, and highlight the challenges and future prospects for environmental education worldwide.

All participants can download the World Environmental Education Day logo for free from this link.

The global initiative “No Limits to Hope”—jointly organized by the Club of Rome, The Fifth Element, and WEEC—also aims to contribute to the development of environmental education globally. Those interested in contributing to the No Limits to Hope project can learn more by reading the concept note and submitting their contribution to the open forum on our website.

Let us celebrate together a long journey of shared commitment to the planet.

Train Yourself… in the Second Half of 2025 with Ifrée!

The second half of the year is the perfect time to take stock, reflect on your professional practices, and develop or strengthen key skills. Whether you’re leading environmental transition projects or simply looking to enrich your approach, Ifrée’s training courses are here to support your initiatives and boost your expertise.

Supporting the Ecological Transition

Understanding and responding to the emotional and social dimensions of environmental change:

  • From Eco-Anxiety to Eco-Resilience
    Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 8 in Poitiers (86)
    NEW DATES

  • Change: Methods and Mindsets (Level 2)
    From Tuesday, November 25 (2:00 p.m.) to Thursday, November 27 in Niort (79)

Introduction to Participatory Approaches

Learn to build dialogue, facilitate group work, and sharpen your active listening skills:

  • Designing and Facilitating Territorial Dialogue
    October 7–9, then November 12–14 in Bordeaux

  • Tools for Facilitating Group Work
    November 25–28 in Niort (79)
    NEW DATES

  • Strengthening Your Active Listening Practice
    Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5 in Angoulême (16)
    NEW DATES

Nature and Environmental Education

For professionals who want to ground their educational practices in nature and field-based approaches:

  • Early Childhood and Nature-Based Environmental Education
    September 16–18 in Villiers-en-Bois (79)

  • Building Your EE Practices: Educational and Pedagogical Fundamentals
    Monday, September 22 (2:00 p.m.) to Friday, September 26 (12:00 p.m.) in Angoulême (16)

  • “Art and Nature” Approach in Environmental Education (Level 1)
    October 14–17 in Angoulême (16)

  • Sensitive Approaches: Reconnecting with Nature
    November 18–21 in Villiers-en-Bois (79)

Trainings Open to All

Educators, trainers, teachers, technicians, civil servants, elected officials, volunteers, project leaders, and nonprofit professionals—Ifrée’s trainings are open to anyone committed to ecological and educational transitions.

Trainings Designed for Real-World Impact

  • Developed based on real needs identified by professionals and organizations.

  • Featuring active learning methods: practical exercises, peer collaboration, and real-world case studies.

  • Designed to ensure effective transfer of learning into participants’ daily work.

  • Diverse participants = enriched exchanges and varied perspectives.

  • Expert trainers selected for their extensive field experience and hands-on knowledge.

Ifrée: Training for Territory-Based Action

Ifrée (Institute for Training and Research in Environmental Education) is a certified Qualiopi training provider that brings together public institutions and nonprofits to support actors working in ecological and educational transitions.

For over 20 years, Ifrée has developed training, resources, tools, and participatory approaches to empower those who bring change to life across communities.

📥 View the Full Program
👉 Click here for the full program

📝 Register Now
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