In a defining moment for our organization and the broader environmental education landscape, Naturehub Collective is proud to announce that we have officially signed the CANIE Accord, a global declaration of commitment to climate action in the international education sector. As the climate crisis accelerates, we believe it is both urgent and essential for educational institutions and initiatives to lead by example—embedding sustainability into every aspect of their mission, operations, and outreach.
By signing the CANIE Accord, we join an inspiring and growing coalition of institutions, networks, and professionals who recognize that international education must not only adapt to the realities of climate change but also become a driver of the solutions our planet so urgently needs.
Understanding the CANIE Accord
The CANIE Accord is more than just a statement of intent—it is a strategic call to action developed by CANIE (Climate Action Network for International Educators), a grassroots initiative and registered non-profit organization. CANIE was founded by international education practitioners from across the globe who saw a critical gap: while international education promotes cultural exchange, global mobility, and cross-border collaboration, it has also been slow to address its environmental footprint.
The CANIE Accord responds to this challenge by offering a unified framework for climate leadership within the sector. It recognizes that the climate emergency is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and that the international education community—comprised of universities, NGOs, scholarship programs, study abroad initiatives, and more—has both the responsibility and the capacity to take meaningful action.
The Accord lays out a set of guiding principles aimed at reducing emissions, building climate literacy, advancing environmental justice, and fostering institutional accountability. Signatories commit to working toward a net-zero future, rethinking how education is delivered and international engagement is managed, all while advocating for equity, inclusion, and resilience in the face of environmental disruption.
The Vision and Mission of CANIE
CANIE’s vision is ambitious but attainable: to build a carbon-neutral and climate-literate international education sector by 2030. Their mission is to support and empower educators and practitioners around the world by offering open access to information, practical tools, and networking platforms that inspire collaboration and collective impact.
Unlike many traditional institutions, CANIE is built from the ground up. It is governed by a global board of volunteer directors, and its activities are largely project-based, powered by practitioner-led committees and regional chapters. This structure allows CANIE to be agile, inclusive, and deeply rooted in the lived realities of those working in international education on the ground.
What sets CANIE apart is its intentional focus on influencing the decision-makers and budget-holders—those with the power to shift institutional priorities and allocate resources toward sustainability. In doing so, CANIE seeks to embed climate responsibility at the highest levels of the sector.
Why Naturehub Collective Signed the Accord
At Naturehub Collective, our core mission has always been about more than conservation—it is about empowering people to live in harmony with nature through education, cultural knowledge, and community action. We operate at the intersection of environmental science, indigenous knowledge, youth empowerment, and sustainable development, and we believe education must evolve to meet the climate challenges of the 21st century.
Our work already reflects many of the values promoted in the CANIE Accord. Whether we are supporting vulture conservation in Laikipia, promoting plant-based diets and indigenous food systems among Maasai youth, or restoring mangrove forests along the Kenyan coast, sustainability is woven into everything we do. But we also recognize that we can do more—and do better.
Signing the CANIE Accord is a public commitment to deepening our impact, raising our standards, and aligning ourselves with a global movement that shares our values. It is also a recognition that international partnerships, mobility programs, and educational exchanges must evolve to become environmentally sustainable and socially just.
As a CANIE signatory, we will work to:
- Integrate climate literacy into all educational materials and training programs we offer.
- Assess and reduce our carbon footprint, especially in relation to international collaborations and travel.
- Advocate for sustainable practices in environmental education, from grassroots projects to institutional policy.
- Connect with other signatories and educators globally, sharing knowledge and collaborating on innovative climate solutions.
Looking Ahead: Climate Action in Education
The climate crisis demands courage, collaboration, and creativity. Educational institutions—especially those engaged in international work—have a unique responsibility to lead with integrity and purpose. By joining the CANIE Accord, Naturehub Collective affirms that climate action is not an add-on to education—it is central to our mission and essential to our future.
We encourage other organizations, especially those in the Global South, to consider joining this movement. As practitioners with firsthand experience of the impacts of climate change, our voices and insights are vital. Through initiatives like CANIE, we can amplify those voices, shape global standards, and drive transformational change from the bottom up.
As we move forward, we remain committed to walking the talk, not only by signing declarations but by implementing sustainable practices across our operations and continuing to educate and mobilize communities in meaningful, lasting ways.
To learn more about CANIE and the Accord, visit www.canie.org and explore how your organization can take part in this vital global movement.
