FAQs

(1) What is Global Climate Change Week?

Global Climate Change Week (GCCW) is designed to encourage academics, professional staff and students in all disciplines and countries to engage with their campus and wider communities on climate change action and solutions.

During GCCW (held annually in October, in the build up to the annual UN Conference of the Parties meeting), participants can incorporate climate change into their teaching, organise activities to raise awareness, and encourage behaviour change and political transformation in relation to climate policy.

(2) When did GCCW begin?

GCCW began in 2015. See the report on GCCW 2015 here.

(3) Why focus on academic communities?

GCCW provides a platform for academic communities to demonstrate their commitment to action on climate change. It provides a platform and a prompt for academics to mobilise locally to inform themselves, professional staff, students, and the wider community and to encourage concrete action on climate mitigation and adaptation.

(4) How is GCCW organised and managed?

GCCW is organised and managed chiefly by a Coordinating Committee at the University of Tasmania. The Coordinating Committee rotates to other universities every five years. If you are interested in taking on the task of coordinating GCCW from 2024, please contact one of the Committee Co-Chairs (Fred Gale or Kim Beasy).

(5) Are there other similar events?

There are a number of similar events including ‘Climate Week’, (http://www.climateweek.com/), ‘Climate Week NYC’ (http://www.climateweeknyc.org/), and Hamburg Climate Week. (http://www.hafencity.com/en/news/4-hamburg-climate-week-in-hafencity.html). The United Nations also organises regional climate weeks (https://unfccc.int/climate-action/regional-climate-weeks).

GCCW is the only initiative that offers a platform for action to academics, students, and universities to engage in local action on climate change. GCCW is thus not duplicating something already being done.

(6) Are there any other groups of organisations doing related work?

Yes, there are large number of organisations doing excellent work on climate change education, education and action at the university level. These include

• UN Education for Sustainable Development (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustainable-development/),

• UN University’s Regional Centres of Expertise Network (http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=108&ddlID=183),

• International Climate Change Information Programme (http://www.iccip.net/),

• Alliance for Climate Education (http://www.acespace.org/),

• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (http://www.aashe.org/) and

• Pennsylvania Higher Education Food Recovery Challenge (http://www.pagreencolleges.org/climate_ed).

None of these organise in a similar way to GCCW and there is no duplication of effort.

(7) Why the third week of October?

First, most universities around the world are in session at that time. Second, the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties take place annually in November or December and GCCW can be used to heighten pressure on policy makers in the build-up to that event.

(8) Where can I find accessible, reliable information about climate change?

Climate change is such a complex issue and it can be hard to know where to look for reliable information. We’ve put together a list of resources to help you learn more about climate change. See the Resources page for further detials.