CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION IN THE ERA OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: WHAT CAN UNIVERSITIES DO?

Climate change is a topical issue. It presents problems in different dimensions and hence solving such problems needs a collaborative effort of all sectors of society. Universities are some of the institutions well positioned to solve problems related to climate change by virtue of them being generators of knowledge. They need a curriculum relevant to the changing nature of climate, so that they retain such relevance over time. Thus, this paper explores the concept of community engagement that is central to the universities involvement in climate change education. Communities are not only geographical, but also virtual and university ? community engagement could take various forms thereby widening the university’s influence. This paper discusses the possibility of adopting the issues based curriculum as a way of ensuring that Climate change is integrated, infused or mainstreamed into the University curriculum. However, it also recognises the need of universities to benefit from their relationship with communities through the adaptation of indigenous knowledge.