Broken Promises: Unfulfilled Commitments to Equal Education and Climate Action

In a world grappling with complex challenges, from climate change to educational disparities, governments worldwide have made numerous commitments to address these pressing issues. While some commitments have led to positive progress, many remain unfulfilled, leaving millions of children and communities behind.

Early Childhood Development: A Crucial Investment Neglected

Early childhood development stands as a critical foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Yet, despite its recognized importance, governments worldwide continue to fall short in investing in quality ECD programs. The World Bank (2023) estimates that a staggering 250 million children under the age of five live in environments that lack adequate stimulation and learning opportunities. In 2015, at the World Education Forum in Incheon, South Korea, governments pledged to ensure that all children have access to quality ECD by 2030. However, progress towards this goal has been slow. This lack of investment in ECD has far-reaching consequences. Children who lack access to quality ECD are more likely to experience developmental delays, struggle in school, and face lifelong challenges in employment and personal fulfillment. Studies have shown that ECD can have a profound impact on children's cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Climate Action: Slow Progress and Unfulfilled Promises

The landmark Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, despite these commitments, global emissions continue to rise, putting the 1.5-degree target out of reach. Those who are most vulnerable to climate change such as children are disproportionately affected by its impacts.

The "Keep Your Promise" Campaign: Demanding Accountability

In response to the unfulfilled commitments to global developmental challenges, civil society organizations and activists worldwide have launched the "Keep Your Promise" campaign. This movement aims to hold governments accountable for their pledges and demand actions to address these critical issues. The campaign calls for increased investment in accelerating the SDG programs, including early learning opportunities, parental support, and nutrition interventions. It also demands urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

The following are a few examples of unfulfilled commitments governments have made on equal education and climate:

• The United States: The US government has repeatedly pledged to provide universal access to quality education, yet millions of children continue to face inadequate educational opportunities due to funding disparities and resource allocation issues.
• China: China has made significant progress in reducing poverty and improving education access, but disparities remain between urban and rural areas, and challenges persist in providing quality education for all children.
• India: India has pledged to increase renewable energy production and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but progress has been slow, and the country remains heavily dependent on coal for power generation.

The unfulfilled commitments on equal education and climate action are not merely failures to achieve goals; they are broken promises to the children and communities who need it most. It is important to continue to hold governments accountable for their promises and to work towards achieving these critical goals.

External links

World Bank (2023). Early Childhood Development. [Online]. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/earlychildhooddevelopment#:~:text=In%20low%2D%20and%20middle%2Dincome,access%20to%20pre%2Dprimary%20education .

Sylvia Allegretto, Emma García, and Elaine Weiss. (2022). Public education funding in the U.S. needs an overhaul. Available at: https://www.epi.org/publication/public-education-funding-in-the-us-needs-an-overhaul/ .

World Bank and the Development Research Center of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China. 2022. Four Decades of Poverty Reduction in China: Drivers, Insights for the World, and the Way Ahead. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1877-6. License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Charmaine Jacob. (2023). Coal free by 2070? India’s push toward renewables won’t stop coal reliance for the next two decades. [Online]. Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/03/india-push-toward-renewables-will-not-stop-coal-reliance-for-20-years.html .