EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY

1 E D U C AT I O N F O R S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y. T H E R O L E O F E D U C AT I O N. IN ENGAGING AND EQUIPPING. PEOPLE FOR CHANGE. w h at i s s u s ta i n a b i l i t y ? A decade into the There are many definitions of Some insights that help us to SUSTAINABILITY , which are influenced engage more effectively with twenty-first century, the by people's values and culture. change for SUSTAINABILITY include: world faces substantial, The best known of these is the There is no proven recipe for UN definition of sustainable complex and interlinked development, now commonly success.

2 SUSTAINABILITY is an ongoing learning-by-doing development and lifestyle referred to as the Brundtland process that actively involves definition, which states: challenges and problems. stakeholders in undertaking Sustainable development is change. The challenges arise development that meets the Many of our current practices from values that have needs of the present without can be destructive. To achieve created unsustainable compromising the ability of SUSTAINABILITY , we need to future generations to meet societies We need a their own challenge the way we think by questioning and reflecting upon shared commitment to The Australian Government has current activities and decisions, EDUCATION that empowers adapted the Brundtland ideals and considering the need for and objectives to local conditions, new ways of acting.

3 People for change. Such to shape its approach to using We need to change our EDUCATION should be of EDUCATION and learning as tools behaviour in order to avoid for change towards SUSTAINABILITY . a quality that provides In Australia, we generally use the environmental and socio- economic problems, rather the values, knowledge, term EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY , than being reactive by acting rather than EDUCATION for skills and competencies Sustainable Development. on symptoms. for sustainable living and participation in society. Bonn Declaration, UNESCO World Conference on EDUCATION for Sustainable Development, Bonn, Germany, April 20091.

4 1. U nited N ations D ecade of E ducation for S ustainable D e v elopment The United Nations has declared that will create a more sustainable the decade from 2005 to 2014, future in terms of environmental the Decade of EDUCATION for integrity, economic viability, and Sustainable Development. The a just society for present and founding value of EDUCATION for future Sustainable Development (ESD) is Through EDUCATION and lifelong respect: respect for others, both learning, we can achieve lifestyles present and future generations; and based on economic and social respect for the planet and what it justice, food security, ecological provides to us ( resources, fauna integrity, sustainable livelihoods, and flora).

5 ESD challenges us all to respect for all life forms, and strong adopt new behaviours and practices values that foster social cohesion, to secure our future. democracy and collective EDUCATION has been recognised Australia's approach to the Decade internationally as fundamentally is set out in Caring for Our Future, important to addressing the critical the Australian Government Strategy global challenges we all face. for the UN The United Nations Decade The UN DESD reorients Priority actions are identified in of EDUCATION for Sustainable Development (UN DESD) is Living Sustainably, the Australian traditional educational Government's National Action Plan a complex and far-reaching approaches towards: for EDUCATION for undertaking.

6 The environmental, social, cultural and economic Through information and i nterdisciplinary and implications are enormous and awareness, but more importantly holistic learning touch many aspects of life of the by building people's capacity to values-based learning world's population. The overall innovate and implement solutions, critically reflective thinking goal of the DESD is to integrate the EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY is multi-method approaches principles, values, and practices essential to re-orienting the way such as word, art, drama of sustainable development into we live and work, and to Australia and debate all aspects of EDUCATION and becoming a sustainable society.

7 Participatory decision-making learning. This educational effort will locally relevant information. encourage changes in behaviour 2. W h at i s E d u c at i o n f o r S u s ta i n a b i l i t y ? We must reconsider Creating a sustainable community full environmental, social and requires that individuals and economic implications. our tools, methods organisations have the knowledge, EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY and approaches, our skills, values, capacity and facilitates change by: politics and economics, motivation to respond to the complex SUSTAINABILITY issues they working in conjunction with our relationships and encounter in their personal and and complementing other partnerships, and the very working lives.

8 Approaches foundations and purpose EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY building capacity in individuals of EDUCATION and how it in Australia has evolved over and organisations for the past 30 years. Since the transformational change relates to the lives we lead first environmental EDUCATION fostering new knowledge [EfS] encourages a shift conference in Australia in 1970, the focus has shifted from fostering new behaviours, from viewing EDUCATION knowledge of natural ecosystems systems and practices as a delivery mechanism and the threats posed to them emphasising creative, critical to a lifelong, holistic and by overuse and depletion of and innovative approaches.

9 Resources to equipping all inclusive process. people with the knowledge, skills The 4th International Conference on Environmental EDUCATION , and understanding necessary to The Ahmedabad Declaration 2007: make decisions based upon their A Call to Action, 28 November Components of Develops the ability to Builds a shared vision EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY participate in change. amongst a diverse range Provides a new perspective. of stakeholders. Envisioning a better future Promotes alternative Motivates and adds establishes a link between ways of thinking.

10 Value to initiatives. long term goals and immediate Participation goes beyond Systemic thinking recognises actions, and motivates people consultation, involving people that the whole is more than the to action by harnessing their in joint analysis, planning, and sum of its parts, and is a better deep aspirations. control of local decisions. way to understand and manage Identifies relevance and complex situations. Puts decision-making and meaning for different people. responsibility for outcomes in Identifies connections Explores how to achieve the hands of the participants.