Ten climate education cases selected for COP31

In June 2026, pta Plant Technology Alliance and pta planet invited grassroots climate education cases from across China. The team interviewed each contributor to understand the work behind each submission and selected ten cases.

These participatory, game-based and project-based efforts serve children, university students, villagers and the wider public in schools, communities, villages, parks, coastal areas and former industrial sites. pta plans to bring them to COP31-related international exchanges in Antalya in November 2026.

Case 01 / Ecological board games for climate education

Urumqi · University students and teachers · Submitted by Deng Xin, a law lecturer at Xinjiang Normal University. A carbon neutrality course combines ecology-themed board games with project-based learning to turn climate and sustainability understanding into action.

Case 02 / Climate resilience at Yanta Pear Orchard

Kunming · Community residents · Submitted by Mengnanshe Sustainable Development Service Center, Chenggong District (Zou Jiarun). Orchard cover, drip irrigation and pear-syrup production reduce climate impacts on fruit growers. The project combines IPCC-based risk assessment with local experience and supports women’s income.

Case 03 / Heqi community climate adaptation

13 provinces including Yunnan, Guangxi and Sichuan · Community residents · Submitted by Yunnan Xieli Public Welfare Support Center (Wang Siyuan). Participatory risk assessment and an AI-supported guide help community workers involve older people, women, people with disabilities and farmers in local adaptation.

Case 04 / A story from a piece of sea glass

Xiamen · Young people and the public · Submitted by Musu Ocean Workshop (Mumu). Sea glass introduces ocean litter, coral ecosystems and climate change through beach cleanups, workshops and joint activities that promote biodiversity and sustainable living.

Case 05 / A music album rooted in local places

Across China · Teenagers · Submitted by ArtForGood (You Xiang). Interdisciplinary courses on ocean sound maps, photosynthesis and original music connect climate learning, composition and public presentation.

Case 06 / From two seed schools to a local network

Liyang and Changzhou · Children aged 6–12 and teachers · Submitted by Huban Xiaozhan Youth Public Welfare Service Center, Wujin District (Yang Xuwei). School carbon inventories, gardens, rainwater collection and composting have expanded into a five-school network and nature education base serving hundreds of teachers and students.

Case 07 / Circular Renewal Plan

Shenzhen · Community residents · Submitted by Longhua District Zero Waste Promotion Association (contribution by Guo Zhifu). Repair, exchange, donation and composting make resource recovery practical for households and build local composting capacity.

Case 08 / From carbon awareness to climate action

Guangzhou · Community residents, young people and the public · Submitted by Climate Action (Guangdong) Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (Yang Lan). City-park operations such as garden-waste recycling become hands-on public lessons about climate, circular resources and low-carbon living.

Case 09 / Game-based climate education

Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tianjin and other cities · Children aged 6–12, families and residents · Submitted by Little Whale Explorer education R&D team and Shenzhen Urban Planning & Design Institute (Cai Tianshu and Li Lingyun). Replicable games and participatory workshops help people move from learning about carbon to co-creating action.

Case 10 / T2M: an old factory as an urban climate classroom

Greater Bay Area · Community residents and the public · Submitted by Dongpeng Holdings (DP LAB). A former Foshan factory houses a sustainable materials library, turning industrial waste and circular materials into tangible education through exhibitions, study visits and co-creation.

Continuing the conversation

From sea glass and board games to orchards, parks, music and industrial renewal, climate education takes many forms. pta hopes to keep connecting practitioners working on climate, nature, community, education and sustainable living.

Article prepared by pta operations team members Xuancao, Yangyuhua and Pipi.