The state of the planet, especially climate and ocean (C&O), has become even more dire than just a year ago. Some quotes (mostly 2022) will illustrate this:
• The world is halfway through the time allocated for achieving the SDGs and the UN reports [that] countries have gone backwards on most of them. Bendell.
• Our world is suffering from the impact of unprecedented emergencies caused by the climate crisis, pollution, desertification and biodiversity loss. UN Secr-General, Guterres.
• Multiple climate tipping points could be triggered if global temperature rises beyond 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This will be disastrous for people across the world. futureearth.org, McKay, Rockström.
System-wide C&O education, with a good dose of geoethics, is a crucial key to reducing the impending tragedy. Thus C&O educators carry a great geoethical responsibility for the health of the Earth and the life that it carries, including humans. This also is a well-supported idea:
• Climate literacy is the key to a greener future. Conner.
• Understanding human behavior and the social drivers of climate change are essential for the public to fully appreciate the climate system. Shwom et al.
• Improved science and climate literacy are needed for planetary citizens to better understand the implications of global change. Harrington.
• Creating a climate-literate population is key to driving green jobs – and ambitious climate action. earthday.org
• It is about empowering people with tools, to better use that ocean knowledge to become more responsible and able to take decisions that involve ocean resources. Santoro, 2022.
The state of the climate and the related urgent need for climate education are captured in this quote:
• Since the IPCC (2018) 1.5°C Report, the global climate emergency has become widely acknowledged. With all adverse climate change indicators at record highs and global emissions still increasing, political will needs to be driven, hard and fast, making climate change literacy a survival imperative for civilization. Carter.
The above can be applied, mutatis mutandis, to related threats, such as biodiversity, pollution, food security and fossil-fuel-driven war. We welcome presentations from all cultures on a broad range of topics, from hands-on pedagogical methods and practices, through geo-communication, curriculum matters, outreach and research, to policy and its implementation.