The RewirEd Summit's second edition, held at the Connect Conference Centre in Expo City Dubai within COP28's Green Zone, marked a groundbreaking moment in history by placing education at the forefront of global climate action, aiming to impact billions of children and youth worldwide.
Distinguished as the inaugural global education summit on climate, the RewirEd Summit convened over 1,000 participants, including two heads of state, 22 ministers, and 28 CEOs. The event featured 260 speakers representing 209 entities from 76 countries, fostering a comprehensive dialogue that showcased impactful solutions at the intersection of climate and education, as reported by WAM.
With a robust agenda comprising 35 sessions, each discussion brought together key stakeholders from diverse sectors to chart a collective path for education systems to lead in climate action. True to its commitment of inclusivity, the RewirEd Summit actively involved youth in nearly all sessions. Ministers of education, international cooperation, climate, and environment, alongside students, teachers, youth advocates, experts, climate champions, and indigenous leaders, participated in insightful and inspiring sessions.
The one-day event witnessed the launch of impactful initiatives, spotlighting innovative solutions for rewiring education systems globally. Notable initiatives included 'Green Rising,' a collaboration between UNICEF and Generation Unlimited, aiming to empower at least 10 million children and youth, particularly girls, in developing countries through grassroots action, green skills development, and advocacy over the next three years.
Dr. Al Gurg announced the spin-off of the RewirEd Summit as an independent global platform led by a global board, with Laura Frigenti, Yasmine Sherif, and Dr. Tariq Al Gurg as co-chairs. The Aga Khan Foundation introduced an online portal featuring over 100 teacher-led climate action solutions from more than 60 countries, co-funded by Dubai Cares.
The Summit also saw collaborations between governments, NGOs, and foundations, addressing early childhood development, sustainable school feeding programs, and climate education. Notable launches included the first global social impact bond, the 'Planet-Friendly School Meals White Paper,' and the Green Jobs for Youth Online Training and Mentoring Program.
The African Union Commission announced its 2024 education theme, emphasizing the transformation of education across the continent. The RewirEd Summit discussions underscored the urgent need for education transformation, addressed by the Dubai Cares Global Education Solutions Accelerator launched on December 2nd at COP28.
In partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation and with the support of the Global Center on Adaptation, the Accelerator aims to make education transformation a reality for every country by 2030. The historic RewirEd Summit, organized by Dubai Cares, exemplifies how philanthropy can drive global change by fostering collaborative partnerships, paving the way for a prosperous and sustainable future while addressing the complex challenge of education.