EELL 2026 North American Conference
“Empowering Women and Girls for a Sustainable Future: Lifelong Learning in Environmental Stewardship,”
The 4th Global Conference on Environmental Education and Lifelong Learning, organized by the Pan African Centre for Climate Policy, is scheduled to take place in Canada on October 15 and 16, 2026. The conference’s overarching theme, “Empowering Women and Girls for a Sustainable Future: Lifelong Learning in Environmental Stewardship,” aims to foster meaningful dialogues and strategies at the intersection of gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. This gathering seeks to catalyze global efforts to embed gender-sensitive approaches within environmental education frameworks, recognizing the vital role women and girls play as agents of change in combating climate change and environmental degradation.
Background and Rationale
As climate change accelerates and environmental degradation intensifies, education emerges as a crucial tool for fostering sustainable development and resilience. Women and girls often bear the brunt of environmental crises, yet they also possess immense potential to lead transformative change. Addressing this disparity, the conference emphasizes empowering women and girls through lifelong learning opportunities that enhance their capacity to participate actively in environmental decision-making and climate resilience initiatives.
Statistics underscore the urgency of this issue. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 highlights Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Haiti as among the most vulnerable nations to climate disasters, experiencing frequent extreme weather events. UNESCO reports that women constitute only 35% of environmental science researchers globally, and in many developing countries, girls are 50% less likely to complete secondary education compared to boys—limiting their involvement in environmental policy and action. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where women are heavily engaged in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, their limited access to lifelong learning hampers adaptive capacities vital for resilience.
Bringing together policymakers, educators, environmentalists, gender advocates, youth leaders, and community stakeholders worldwide, the conference aims to:
- Highlight the critical role of lifelong learning in empowering women and girls as catalysts for environmental change.
- Promote gender-sensitive approaches in environmental education policies and programs.
- Share innovative practices, successful initiatives, and scalable models.
- Foster international collaboration to integrate gender considerations into lifelong learning frameworks.
- Develop concrete policy recommendations to mainstream gender equality within global environmental education efforts.
The core theme, “Empowering Women and Girls for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the need for a multifaceted approach. Focus areas include integrating gender perspectives into curricula and community programs, especially in high-risk regions; building capacities of women and girls to adapt to climate variability; promoting women’s leadership in environmental governance; leveraging digital tools to enhance environmental literacy; and strengthening policies aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Anticipated Outcomes
The conference aims to elevate awareness of gender-inclusive environmental education, foster commitments from stakeholders to implement gender-sensitive lifelong learning initiatives, and strengthen networks among practitioners and policymakers. Participants will develop policy recommendations to embed gender considerations in environmental education and establish action plans for ongoing collaboration.
Target Audience
Participants include governments and policymakers, educational institutions, environmental organizations, gender advocates, youth and community leaders, researchers, academics, and media representatives.
Conference Structure
The event features keynote speeches from global thought leaders, thematic panel discussions, interactive workshops on best practices and policy advocacy, regional breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Cultural and artistic performances will celebrate women’s contributions and cultural diversity.