The project objectives were to enhance the quality of early education teaching in deprived areas in environmentally conscientious ways and in the context of sustainable development. The objectives of project were to (1) advance early childhood environmental education by increasing the capacities of both educators and children, (2) ensure inclusion by involving primary schools in deprived areas, (3) increase the quality of early education using experiential learning to develop climate literacy and awareness, (4) enable transnational and cross sectoral collaborations for advancing experiential learning on environment in early education.
The Mediterranean region is identified as a climate change hotspot and, therefore, both Cyprus and Malta are expected to experience the effects of climate change sooner and more adversely than other parts of Europe. This is alarming, but in Cypriot and Maltese society climate change is not perceived as areal and serious crisis.Consequently, actions towards fighting it are still disproportionate with the magnitude of the problem. CLIMATE EARLY addressed these needs that are necessary to act in delivering environmental education and climate awareness within the Cypriot and Maltese societies, and especially among schools in deprived areas. CLIMATE EARLY addressed the needs and goals of the participating organisations by (1) providing experiential learning on climate-specific topics which is currently absent in primary schools within deprived areas of Cyprus and Malta, (2) enhancing environmental literacy and awareness among early educators and students who are currently underequipped to face the increasing challenges of climate change in their countries, (3) fostering the development of a currently absent digital platform related to early education on environment.