In recent years, the world has witnessed extreme events that have marked the lives of millions of people. From devastating wildfires to catastrophic floods and powerful hurricanes, climate change seems to be an increasingly present factor in explaining these phenomena. In 2024, for example, Europe and the Middle East were hit by extreme heatwaves that surpassed historical thresholds, while the United States and Canada experienced massive wildfires that destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest. Similarly, countries in Asia and South America were affected by severe flooding and tropical storms more intense than ever before. All these events are presented as direct results of climate change and global warming, a reality that seems harder to ignore.
However, despite the intensification of these events, authorities have often been unprepared to cope with catastrophes of such magnitude. In many cases, interventions have been chaotic, lacking coordination and inadequate to meet the urgent needs of the population. A clear example of this was the management of wildfires in southern Europe in 2024, when thousands of people had to be evacuated from the path of the flames, but authorities failed to provide a coherent plan for prevention and protection. Additionally, in many flood-affected areas, outdated and poorly adapted infrastructure to climate change posed a barrier to quick and effective interventions.
In the face of these crises, authorities have often blamed climate change, using this factor as a convenient excuse for the lack of appropriate responses. Instead of taking responsibility for inadequate risk management, many political leaders have preferred to emphasize the inevitability of extreme weather events, without addressing the root causes of society’s vulnerability. Much has been said about “climate change” as an unavoidable and implacable force, while forgetting that a significant portion of the current problems is fueled by the lack of effective management, negligence in protecting infrastructure, and the absence of prevention and adaptation measures. In many cases, we are not dealing only with natural phenomena, but with a civil protection and urban planning system that is not keeping pace with the realities of a changing climate.
It is essential for society to understand that we cannot continue to hide behind climate change and shift responsibility onto nature. While it is true that global warming amplifies certain phenomena, in many cases, it is a matter of chronic unpreparedness and a lack of vision in the face of evident challenges. We must assume collective responsibility and implement prevention, education, and adaptation policies for new climate conditions. It is time for authorities and citizens to realize that solutions do not come only from reactive responses to catastrophes but from active, well-planned risk management and the construction of infrastructure capable of withstanding future challenges.
Without a profound shift in how we understand and approach environmental issues, we will always be at the mercy of catastrophes that could have been prevented, and responsibility will become increasingly difficult to transfer to anything other than ourselves. The ECF4CLIM project explores how education at all levels – from primary schools to universities – can be adapted to meet the challenges of the future, with climate change as an undeniable reality of our lives. By rethinking educational approaches, the project aims to prepare future generations with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This initiative underscores the importance of integrating climate education into curricula, ensuring that both current and future leaders are equipped to take responsibility for a sustainable and resilient world.
