First climate education lead at Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Christine Özden to serve as first global director, climate education

New Delhi, November 11, 2022: Cambridge University Press & Assessment has made a series of public commitments to sustainability and reports to the actions it has taken to ensure that environment, human rights, people, and anti-corruption are at the heart of its operations and outputs via its participation in the UN Global Compact.

As one of the world’s leading education organisations, Cambridge University Press & Assessment has appointed its first ever global director, Christine Özden, for climate education.

Christine Özden is dedicated to how Cambridge University Press & Assessment uses education and engagement to achieve impact through its complete range of products, services and partnerships. She will work with colleagues across the organisation, the University of Cambridge and a wide range of education stakeholders, including those across South Asia.

It is the non-profit’s latest step forward in delivering on its commitment to sustainability. Alongside reducing its environmental impact, Cambridge University Press & Assessment sees education as the opportunity to support thinking and inform action around some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change.

Christine has a wealth of experience in international education, having lived and worked in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, most recently as chief executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education, successfully leading it through its biggest ever exam series in 2022.

Christine Özden, global director, climate education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “The climate emergency is one of the most important global issues of our time: we have a responsibility and the capability to be part of the solution. I’m looking forward to working with schools, teachers, researchers, governments and learners around the world; to develop the knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes with which we can confidently address the different climate change challenges that face our communities, prepare people with new skills for work and to build a more sustainable world.”

As the largest global provider of international education programmes for 5-19 year olds (Cambridge International) and owner of the world’s leading English language online platform (Cambridge One, 50 million online sessions in 2021-22), Cambridge University Press & Assessment recognises it can spread knowledge, spark curiosity and aid education to enhance climate understanding around the world.

Earlier this year, the organisation’s campaign for a new GCSE in Natural History – alongside environmentalists and politicians – will result in the first new qualification of its type in a decade. Natural History could be taught to 14 -16 year olds from 2025. Students will develop a rigorous understanding of the natural world: from their own local wildlife, environment, and ecosystem to critical global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity and sustainability. A new Cambridge National in Sustainable Business and Communities is also being developed, helping transform options for vocational and technical students in England.

World-leading climate change science and policy is published through its books and journals and Elements – a hybrid of the two. Its publishing includes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) latest special reports – “Global Warming of 1.5°C” and “The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate”) – and market-leading university-level textbooks such as “Introduction to Modern Climate Change” by Andrew E. Dessler, now in its third edition, alongside popular science titles such as “There is No Planet B” by Mike Berners-Lee. To encourage climate action, the Cambridge University Press climate collection includes content that is free to read.

Current plans to empower its team globally include a new carbon literacy course for all staff and new tools for monitoring progress towards science-based targets for reducing energy related emissions and for greening its supply chain.

Recently its Delhi-based team took part in a tree-planting initiative which aims to develop an urban, micro-forest at Ghaziabad. The team is supporting the environment project for two years as part of its local corporate social responsibility initiatives and global employee volunteering programme.