The CLIMADEMY Final Conference, organized in collaboration with the Teachers’ Climate Change Forum, took place at the Hyytiälä Forest Station in Finland from April 1 to April 3, 2025. This event gathered participants from several countries and marked the conclusion of the CLIMAte change teachers’ acaDEMY (CLIMADEMY) project, a European Union-funded initiative under the ERASMUS 2027 – Teachers’ Academy program.
During the conference, pilot teachers who were central to the project shared effective climate change education practices that had been co-developed over the three-year program. These practices were designed for local contexts and supported by a pedagogical model and competence framework, both of which were outcomes of CLIMADEMY’s collaborative efforts and were also presented during the conference.
The hybrid event had the participation of distinguished keynote speakers, including former President of Finland Tarja Halonen, who spoke about the fundamental role of education during times of multiple crises. Another highlight was a presentation by Guia Bianchi, co-author of GreenComp, the European Sustainability Competence Framework.
As part of the program, participants had the opportunity to visit the Orivesi’s Upper Secondary School, led by CLIMADEMY pilot teacher Aulikki Laine. This visit illustrated the Finnish educational context and promoted discussions on the diverse challenges and opportunities faced by teachers in their specific schools and communities. Additionally, immersive experiences such as art workshops, forest walks, sauna visits, and ice swimming promoted cultural exchanges.
The Teachers’ Climate Change Forum, now in its eighth year, is organized by the University of Helsinki Science Education (part of LUMA Centre Finland) and the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR). The forum is led by Professor Maija Aksela (LUMA Centre Finland), with Senior University Lecturer Taina Ruuskanen (INAR) serving as the deputy director. This year’s event also opened new opportunities as international partner institutions expressed interest in hosting future editions of the forum, potentially expanding the network and strengthening a global community of climate-competent educators.
As the CLIMADEMY project wraps up, the momentum it has generated continues to grow, promising a legacy in climate change education across Europe and beyond.
Learn more about CLIMADEMY and access the learning materials on CLAUDI platform.
Read more about the Teachers’ Climate Change Forum here.
Written by Juliana Friedrichsen. The article was first published 11.4.2025 on the University of Helsinki webpage.