Intergenerational Climate Change Education in Metropolitan China: Case Studies of Jing’an Elderly University and Nanhui New City University for Senior Citizens within the Shanghai Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Ecosystem

Abstract

          This study addresses the urgent need for effective climate change education in urban China examining how intergenerational learning within Shanghai’s Education for Sustainable Development ecosystem can enhance climate literacy and social cohesion. The study conducted case studies of Jing’an Elderly University and Nanhui New City University for Senior Citizens, analysing their place-based curricula (industrial heritage/renewable energy workshops in Jing’an; smart-city infrastructure in Nanhui) through participatory activities, field trips, and community workshops. Both institutions successfully embedded climate education in intergenerational settings: Jing’an linked industrial heritage with green technology workshops, while Nanhui integrated smart-city infrastructure with traditional ecological knowledge exchange. These approaches demonstrably enhanced climate literacy and strengthened cross-generational social bonds. The findings provide actionable theoretical and practical insights for scaling culturally rooted, age-inclusive climate education models in metropolitan China and comparable urban contexts.