Climate, Durability
Forty years of environmental education in the Benelux: A Jubilee celebrated at a seminar on climate education
26 Mar. 2025
On March 26 and 27, 2025, the Biodiversum Nature and Forest Center in Remerschen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, will host the Benelux Days for Nature and Environmental Education. This seminar, organized in collaboration with the Luxembourg presidency of the Benelux and dedicated to climate education, is officially opened today in the presence of Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Biodiversity.
More than 100 participants, including experts, policymakers, and young people, are attending the event, which celebrates forty years of Benelux’s commitment to environmental education. Environmental education goes beyond merely transferring knowledge about climate or biodiversity—it primarily aims to shape citizens who understand the world around them, anticipate future challenges, and develop innovative solutions. The event also highlights the importance of an interministerial approach to addressing future climate challenges.
Since 1985, the Benelux has been a pioneer in promoting projects and ideas focused on nature conservation and ecological awareness. Over the decades, this tradition has evolved, making climate education a key pillar in 2025 to prepare future generations for the challenges of climate change. This forty-year legacy now provides a solid foundation for intensifying climate action, positioning the Benelux as an inspiring model for the whole of Europe.
Ministers open the seminar
At the opening of the seminar today, Minister Serge Wilmes, the Dutch Ambassador to Luxembourg, Carin Lobbezoo, and Jean-Claude Meyer, Deputy Secretary-General of the Benelux, praised the forty-year commitment to environmental education.
“The protection of the climate concerns us all and requires collective action at all levels—governmental, associative, local, and personal. Systematic information and public awareness can drive sustainable change. This call for resilience must also be directed at young people, not only through formal education in schools but also in their extracurricular activities. Only by mobilizing all generations can we tackle the climate challenges of today and tomorrow together,” emphasized Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes.
Jean-Claude Meyer stressed the importance of international cooperation: “The climate does not stop at the borders of the Benelux countries. It requires strengthened collaboration with neighboring regions and countries, as well as with other regional partnerships, especially within the European Union, to influence international debates.”
A rich program featuring international experts and young people
The seminar offers a diverse and engaging program, including sessions on the state of scientific knowledge on climate change, with a keynote contribution from Professor Jean-Pascal Van Ypersele, former Vice-Chair of the IPCC. Other sessions address psychological challenges such as eco-anxiety while showcasing inspiring best practices from the Benelux region.
On the second day, March 27, the Climate Youth Delegates from Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands will share their experiences and recommendations after a year of representing young people. This will be followed by two parallel workshops to deepen discussions: one on integrating climate education into school curricula and another on effective communication about climate challenges. These sessions aim to turn ideas into concrete actions.
Looking to the future
The Benelux Days for Nature and Environmental Education will conclude on March 27 with a session focused on future perspectives. The goal of this session is to identify concrete proposals to intensify climate education in schools, mobilize younger generations around sustainable initiatives, and accelerate the ecological transition in the three countries. These efforts reflect the Benelux’s commitment to building a resilient future in the face of climate challenges.
picture : MECB/Studion Photography
