The 44th EEASA Conference will be held from 21st – 25th September, 2026 in Lilongwe, Malawi
About EEASA 2026
This year, the Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa and the Malawi Local Organising Committee invites researchers, educators, policymakers, and practitioners to gather in Malawi — the Warm Heart of Africa — for the EEASA 2026 Annual Conference. Hosted at the Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, this three-day event brings together voices from across the region and beyond to reimagine the role of education in confronting our planet’s most urgent challenge: the climate crisis. The conference will be from 21–25 September 2026, (21st and 25th September being travel dates). The theme is: Reimagining Education for Climate Resilience, Justice, and Sustainable Futures.
Conference Objectives
The conference seeks to:
- Examine the role of education in advancing climate action, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development in the Southern African region.
- Explore innovative pedagogies, policies, and practices that support climate-smart and green education.
- Interrogate issues of climate justice, loss and damage, reparations, and responsibility, and their implications for education.
- Strengthen dialogue on education’s contribution to just transitions and sustainable livelihoods.
- Share empirical research, case studies, and community-based experiences that demonstrate transformative approaches to ESD.
- Foster networks and partnerships among researchers, educators, policymakers, and development actors.
Registrations
EEASA 2026 registrations is now open . Secure your place at EEASA 2026.
Registration Options:
Early Registration – USD $340 (Early Registration closes 15 August 2026) Payment by 18 August
(Registration includes full conference fees with lunch and tea, EEASA membership fee and Gala dinner only)
Late Registration – USD $360 (Registration closes 4 September 2026) Payment by 10 September
(Registration includes full conference fees with lunch and tea, EEASA membership fee and Gala dinner only)
Student Registration – USD $340 (Registration closes 4 September 2026) Payment by 10 September
(Registration includes full conference fees with lunch and tea, EEASA membership fee and Gala dinner only)
Important Information
- Registration fees do not include accommodation or transport.
- Delegates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation directly with the hotel or nearby lodging facilities.
- A list of recommended accommodation can be found here.
EEASA 2026 Key Details
Why attend EEASA 2026
Engage the debates
Attend keynote addresses, panel discussions, and paper sessions tackling climate justice, green pedagogy, just transitions, and the future of ESD.
Shape the agenda
Contribute to regional declarations and policy recommendations that influence how southern Africa approaches education for climate resilience.
Experience Malawi
Go beyond the conference room. Optional field excursions and cultural experiences connect the academic programme to Malawi’s extraordinary natural and human landscape.
Build your network
Connect with leading researchers, educators, and policymakers across the region. EEASA conferences are known for the lasting professional relationships they forge.
Professional development
Earn CPD recognition for your attendance and engagement. Take new frameworks, tools, and ideas back to your institution or organisation.
Cross-sector collaboration
Forge partnerships across academia, government, NGOs, and community organisations. EEASA is a space where researchers and practitioners work side by side toward shared goals.
EEASA 2026 Keynote Speakers
Distinguished Professor
Melanie Walker
University of the Free State
South Africa
Melanie Walker is a distinguished professor at the University of the Free State in South Africa. She has held a South African Research Chair in Higher Education and Human Development since 2013 with a remit to conduct research and to facilitate capacity-building of young African scholars and produce sub-Saharan African scholarship. She is a National Research Foundation A1 rated scholar, a fellow of the Academy of Sciences in South Africa (ASSAF), and past President of the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) of which she is also a lifetime fellow. She is honorary research fellow of the Laudato Si Research Institute (LSRI), University of Oxford. She has published over 200 articles and chapters in books and authored or co-authored around 15 books. Her research focuses on higher education and lifelong learning spaces with a particular concern and focus on achieving more social justice (equitable wellbeing and agency) and more equality for marginalized students. Recently, she has been working on a trio of connected projects exploring a planetary consciousness capability and reflexive learning in South African universities and other lifelong learning spaces, as well as the space of just transitions. She has two co-authored books forthcoming in 2027: Flourishing in and Through Higher Education: Reparative ‘Planetary Consciousness’ Capability Formation (Bloomsbury), and Participatory story-telling and ecological capablity formation (Palgrave).
Keynote topic: How can we conceptualise and educate for eco-social justice in terms of relational capabilities for flourishing living world’ lives.
Communications and Climate Diplomacy Advisor,
Malawi
Mathews Malata is an accomplished environmental advocate, climate diplomacy specialist, and strategic communications expert with more than 15 years of experience advancing environmental sustainability, climate action, disaster risk reduction, and public policy. His career spans electronic, digital, and print media, where he has successfully translated complex environmental issues into accessible public discourse and informed policy. He is the Founding Member and Co-Chairperson of the Movement for Environmental Action (MEA) and the Founding Member and Former President of the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Malawi. In recognition of his contributions to environmental stewardship, he was named an Environmental Sustainability Champion for the Malawi 2063 Vision by the National Planning Commission.
Mathews currently serves as a Communications and Climate Diplomacy Advisor to the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group Chair’s Office in the UNFCCC negotiations, providing technical support through Climate Analytics (CA) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). A certified LEAD Fellow, he has participated extensively in international climate negotiations and is widely recognised for bridging science, policy, media, and public engagement to advance sustainable development and climate resilience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).
Keynote Title: Reimagining environmental education through transformative learning for climate action, resilience, justice and sustainable futures.