The Summer School on Climate and Green Skills brings together university students from London and Los Altos de Chiapas to develop practical knowledge, explore employment opportunities and green entrepreneurship, and formulate proposals relevant to their local contexts. This initiative is supported by the British Council and HSBC through the Climate Skills Global Collaboration Grants program.  

Its approach recognizes scientific knowledge and the ecological wisdom of indigenous communities as complementary. The program includes modules on nature-based solutions, climate justice, leadership and social entrepreneurship, gender equality, disability, and social inclusion. 

As part of the coordination efforts by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with other development agencies operating in Mexico, the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance (Interfaz IKI) project helped deliver a training module and hosted faculty and students from London Metropolitan University at the GIZ Mexico offices. Subsequently, the exchange continued with an immersion at the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH) and field visits.  

The visit to Mexico highlighted an initiative that bridges academic education and community knowledge, while also showcasing some of the climate solutions being implemented through the lens of international cooperation.  

Its potential to expand the scope of climate action lies in young people’s ability to apply and share these lessons, while recognizing the diversity of contexts and the autonomy of communities over their own knowledge. 

Faculty and students from London Metropolitan University and Daniela Valera, Technical Advisor at GIZ Mexico. Credit: GIZ Mexico.