Decision Brief For Australia’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution And Consideration Of UNESCO Declaration.
DCCEEW
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A Department of Education email from July 2025 forwards correspondence from Senator David Pocock urging Australia to join UNESCO's Greening Education Partnership and integrate education into Australia's 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) update under the Paris Agreement. Senator Pocock notes that 90 nations, including the UK, have already formally integrated education into their NDC updates and argues that equipping young Australians with climate and environmental knowledge is essential given current climate and biodiversity crises. The email requests urgent advice on whether Australia intended to update its NDC that year and whether education would be included. No environmental data, regulatory decisions, or EPBC Act matters are addressed in this excerpt.
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Document 1 LEX 81815 1 of 9 s 47F(1) From: s 47F(1) @education.gov.au> Sent: Thursday, 17 July 2025 12:44 PM To: s 47F(1) Cc: s 47F(1) s 47F(1) s 47F(1) EDUC - Multilateral Engagement; s 47F(1) s 47F(1) s 47F(1) Subject: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] Attachments: MinCorro - UNESCO Greening Partnership.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Completed OFFICIAL Hi 😊 I hope you are well. We have received the attached correspondence from Senator David Pocock on the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership. I note that Senator Pocock addresses Australia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Could I please confirm whether Australia intended to update their NDC this year, and if so, whether education will be included? We would appreciate advice by this Friday. Kind regards s 47F(1) International Standards | International Students, Legislation & Integrity Branch International Division Australian Government Department of Education Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Newsroom  The Department of Education acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and emerging. OFFICIAL Document 1A 2 of 9 RECEIVED FEB 2000 SENATOR DAVID POCOCK Senator for the ACT The Hon Jason Clare MP Minister for Education Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister Clare, I write to encourage the Australian Government to consider joining the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership. The Greening Education Partnership is a global initiative that recognises the critical role of education in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. Equipping young Australians with the skills and knowledge needed to understand and respond to the climate and biodiversity crises is essential if we are to build a more resilient and sustainable nation. These crises are already impacting the lives of Australian students, and the education system has an important role to play in preparing them to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. The Greening Education Partnership takes a whole-of-system approach, bringing together governments, civil society, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, and youth to embed climate action across school systems. This aligns strongly with the growing call from educators, parents, and students across the ACT and Australia for more consistent, integrated climate and sustainability education. In addition, I note UNESCO's call for countries to formally integrate education into their 2025 5-yearly updates of their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. Ninety nations, including the United Kingdom, have already done so. Given Australia's commitments under the Agreement, and the government's focus on climate ambition, I urge the Government to include education in the next update of our NDC. Thank you for your time in considering this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss this further. Alternatively, my office can be contacted via s 47F(1) on s 47F(1) or s 47F(1) @aph.gov.au. Kind regards, Parliament House P +61 2 6277 3117, PO Box 6100, Senate, Canberra ACT 2600 | Electorate Office P +61 2 6247 6444, Shop 1, 25 Ernest Cavanagh St, Gunghalin, ACT 2912 | senator.david.pocock@aph.gov.au | www.davidpocock.com.au Document 1A LEX 81815 3 of 9  Senator David Pocock 14 July 2025 Released by DCCEEW under the FOI Act 1982 Document 2 LEX 81815 4 of 9 s 47F(1) From: s 47F(1) Sent: Tuesday, 22 July 2025 5:17 AM To: s 47F(1) s 47F(1) s 47F(1) @education.gov.au Cc: s 47F(1) s 47F(1) EDUC - Multilateral Engagement: s 47F(1); s 47F(1); s 47F(1); s 47F(1); s 47F(1); s 47F(1); s 47F(1); Chao FENG Subject: RE: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] OFFICIAL Thanks s 47F(1) and apologies for the late reply. s 47C(1) We had a chat with s 47F(1) @education.gov.au who provided some useful insights and suggestions to inform that section. Let us know if you had further questions ● - - ➔ Cheers s 47F(1) OFFICIAL From: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au> Sent: Friday, 18 July 2025 11:56 AM To: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @education.gov.au; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au> Cc: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; EDUC - Multilateral Engagement <s 47f(d) @education.gov.au="">; s 47F(1) @dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dccceew.gov.au>;; Chao FENG <chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au> Subject: RE: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] OFFICIAL Hi s 47F(1) The Government is aiming to lodge our updated NDC by September this year. s 47C(1)</chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au></s> Document 2 LEX 81815 5 of 9 s 47C(1) @s 47F(1) s 47C(1) Cheers s 47F(1) # OFFICIAL From: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au> Sent: Thursday, 17 July 2025 4:02 PM To: s 47F(1) @education.gov.au Cc: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; EDUC - Multilateral Engagement <s 47f(d)="" @education.gov.au="">; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @education.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>;; Chao FENG <chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au> Subject: RE: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] # OFFICIAL Hi s 47F(1) Thanks for reaching out. Going well and hope you are too. I've copied a few people from the area working on our 2035 NDC and s 47F(1) from our multilateral negotiations team that are no doubt better placed than I to answer this one. Thanks again s 47F(1) Assistant Director COP31 Strategic Policy | International Climate Negotiations Division Ngunnawal Country, 51 Allara St, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water P s 47F(1) | E: s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au | PE: s 47F(1)@protected.dcceew.gov.au # OFFICIAL From: s 47F(1) @education.gov.au> Sent: Thursday, 17 July 2025 12:44 PM To: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au></chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au></s> Document 2 LEX 81815 6 of 9 Cc: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; EDUC - Multilateral Engagement <s 47e(d)="" @education.gov.au="">; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @education.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @education.gov.au> Subject: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] # OFFICIAL Hi I hope you are well. We have received the attached correspondence from Senator David Pocock on the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership. I note that Senator Pocock addresses Australia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Could I please confirm whether Australia intended to update their NDC this year, and if so, whether education will be included? We would appreciate advice by this Friday. Kind regards s 47F(1) International Standards | International Students, Legislation & Integrity Branch International Division Australian Government Department of Education Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Newsroom  The Department of Education acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and emerging. # OFFICIAL s 22(1)</s> Document 3 LEX 81815 7 of 9 s 47F(1) From: EDUC - Multilateral Engagement <s 47f(1)@dcceew.gov.au> Subject: FW: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] From: EDUC - Multilateral Engagement <s 47e(d)@education.gov.au> Sent: Monday, 21 July 2025 9:45 AM To: s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@education.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au> Cc: s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@education.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dccceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1)@dccceew.gov.au>;; Chao FENG <chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au> Subject: RE: Greening Education Partnership: Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement) [SEC=OFFICIAL] OFFICIAL Hi s 47F(1) Thank you very much for this. Would you be comfortable with us providing the below wording in our response to Senator Pocock? “Australia is committed to the actions under the common agenda for education and climate change, which includes encouraging the inclusion of education in our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Subject to Cabinet approval, education is a key consideration in designing Australia’s 2025 NDC.” Very happy for alternative suggestions – I understand the NDC is still in the production stage. Kind regards s 47F(1) International Standards | International Students, Legislation & Integrity Branch International Division Australian Government Department of Education Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Newsroom  The Department of Education acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and emerging. OFFICIAL</chao.feng@dcceew.gov.au></s> Document 3 LEX 81815 8 of 9 From: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au> Sent: Friday, 18 July 2025 11:56 AM To: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @education.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au> Cc: s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; s 47F(1) @dcceew.gov.au>; ...