The project "E-learning for World Heritage and Climate Protection: Innovative Education for All" aims to increase awareness, knowledge and skills of school children (9 to 16 years old) to address climate change and protect the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. World Heritage properties serve as observatories and also as part of the solution laborataries to climate change, inspiring learners to find local solutions to global challenges.
E-learning for World Heritage & Climate Protection: Innovative Education for All is an open-access educational initiative developed by Heritage & Education gGmbH in partnership with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU).
The project responds to the urgent need for high-quality climate change education for young learners aged 9–16 by using UNESCO World Heritage sites as powerful real-world examples of climate impacts, adaptation, and collective action. Through interactive storytelling, multimedia learning, expert interviews, and hands-on activities, the modules help students understand climate change not as an abstract global issue, but as something connected to places, communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage around the world.
The curriculum includes one introductory module and four thematic modules on World Heritage Glaciers, Forests, Biodiversity, and Historic Cities and Settlements. The modules are designed for flexible use in classrooms, project weeks, blended learning, self-paced online learning, and international school collaboration.
Course Staff
Dr. Ping Kong
Dr. Ping Kong is the Founder and CEO of Heritage & Education gGmbH and the lead developer of the e-learning programme World Heritage and Climate Protection. She specializes in translating systematic and interdisciplinary knowledge into accessible learning experiences through narratives, instructional design, and interactive EduTech, connecting research, policy, practice, and education for sustainable development. She has track records in World Heritage capacity-building, project management, and sustainable development, with hands-on expertise in e-learning development, LMS administration, and international project management. Her background in urban planning, architecture, and design thinking supports a systematic yet practical approach, focused on prototyping, delivery, UX and sustainable learning solutions
Dr. Jonas Etten
Dr. Jonas Etten is an instructional design specialist in sustainability and nature conservation. He designs digital learning experiences that help learners develop systems thinking and navigate complexity. With graduate training in Audiovisual Arts, Literature and Philosophy, he uses narrative, audiovisual, and interactive approaches to reveal relationships, dynamics,and consequences within socio-ecological systems. His doctoral research explored the intersection of cognitive science and media aesthetics.
Course Coordination
Coordinated by:Ms Ines Yousfi, Mr Erik Eschweiler-Dienerowitz, Mr Tales Carvalho Resende of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Partnership
Heritage & Education
Heritage & Education gGmbH (H&E) is a non-profit organization registered in Berlin, Germany. It is dedicated to bridging research, policy, practice, and education in the fields of cultural and natural heritage conservation, sustainable development, and Education for Sustainable Development.
Working with interdisciplinary subject-matter experts, H&E translates scientific knowledge, heritage expertise, and Indigenous insights into accessible, interactive learning experiences for diverse audiences. Through its e-learning programmes on topics such as sustainable water management and climate change, H&E empowers young learners and communities to become active stewards of their cultural and natural environment and to develop place-based solutions for global challenges.
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU
The German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) is one of Europe's largest foundations dedicated to promoting innovative solutions for environmental protection, sustainable development and cultural heritage conservation. Established in 1991 and based in Osnabrück, Germany, the Foundation has supported more than 11,000 projects with a total funding volume of over €2.4 billion.
The DBU supports research and innovative solutions that foster environmentally and health-friendly processes and products. It also promotes environmental knowledge transfer, the application of environmental technologies, and model projects to protect nationally significant cultural heritage from harmful environmental impacts. Through its extensive network of universities, research institutions, businesses and public stakeholders, the DBU helps bridge the gap between science and practice, contributing to a more sustainable future in Germany and beyond.
Course content
2 modules · 8 lessons · 0 assessments
articleAcknowledgement & IntroductionLesson
articleLet's start the learning journeyLesson
articleTeacher ResourcesLesson
articleAcknowledgement & IntroductionLesson
articleLM2.1 World Heritage Glaciers and Climate ChangeLesson
articleLM2.2 World Heritage Forests and Climate ChangeLesson
articleLM2.3 World Heritage Biodiversity and Climate ChangeLesson
articleLM2.4 World Heritage Cities/Settlements and Climate ChangeLesson
