PR2 – Students, Climate Action, and Open Recognition: Insights from Four Countries

The OpenPass4Climate project promotes climate education by providing an open recognition system that supports innovative, learner-centred approaches. Building on the eco-pedagogical activities identified through the project’s Mapping of Eco-Pedagogical Activities – PR1, the consortium explored in PR2 students’ engagement with climate change, their perceptions of open badge systems, and national differences in educational preferences across France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Using a mixed-methods approach involving a large-scale survey, interviews, and both national and transnational focus groups, the study reveals that, although students express strong concern about climate change and acknowledge the human impact, there is a persistent gap remains between their environmental values and their everyday actions. This highlights the need for educational strategies that connect climate knowledge to practical engagement.

The PR2 report highlights students’ strong support for integrating climate education into formal curricula, as well as their desire for informal learning opportunities. While awareness of open badge systems remains moderate, there is clear interest in their potential, especially when credibility is ensured through institutional support and quality assurance.

PR2 identifies three critical priorities moving forward:

1. – Bridging formal and informal learning by recognising diverse learning experiences
2. – Designing credible, user-friendly badge systems with institutional backing
3. – Adapting implementation strategies to national contexts while maintaining Europe-wide standards

These findings directly informed the development of the OpenPass4Climate platforms and guide the design of the upcoming pilot phase.