October and Sustainable Futures The complex world Paul Warwick & Mark Goodwin

The global rationale for ESD Our collective ignorance over the impact our lifestyles are having on other people and the environment.

Total Population Density

Human Poverty

Health Spending

HIV Prevalence

Regaining a sense of wonder about the place where we live

Re-inventing universities for the 21 st century A time for change? HEFCE’s strategic statement and action plan for ESD “Within the next 10 years, the Higher Education sector in this country will be recognised as a major contributor to society’s efforts to achieve sustainability – through the skills and knowledge that its graduates learn to put into practice” (HEFCE 2005/28)

The global rise of Sustainable Development UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development ( ) was declared at the second Earth Summit in Johannesburg in South Africa in The overall goal of the UN Decade of ESD is to integrate the principles, values and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning. This educational effort will encourage changes in behaviour that will create more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society for present and future generations.

Landmark definition of Sustainable Development? "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." ( from the Brundtland Commission/World Commission on Environment and Development’s report Our Common Future Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987). What is Education for sustainable development?

An emerging ESD model Key Relational – Content Dimensions Transdisciplinary – Pedagogy Dimensions Building upon the work by Pike and Selby 1995 and Hicks 2003 ESD active concern for well being 1. Biosphere dimension 2. Temporal dimension 6. Active Learning dimension 3. Spatial dimension 4. Critical Literacy Dimension 5. Creative Thinking dimension

4 Critical Literacy

A great practical solution to provide safe water to the world’s poorest people?

2 hours constant play every day provides the bare minimum water requirement for about 200 people Does this represent a form of child labour? Complexity of the pump mechanism means that it makes local operation and maintenance difficult leading to dependence on international suppliers. Criticism of the high cost of play pumps ($14,000 approx). This can by 4 hand pumps for the same price. BUT..

Put simply ESD is People learning Active concern for the well being of: oneself each other (across cultures, distances and generations) the environment (both near and far) ESD is about inspiring people to read their world and transform it. We live in a time of exponential technological change – Eg. Moore’s law states the density of transistors on a chip doubles every 18 months

ESD Rationale - Changeleaders are waiting in the wings? The future holds many challenges for young people but…. A new and positive rationale for ESD is that it is also an apt educational innovation in response to the potential of young people as change leaders and care takers. ESD has the potential to be a pedagogy of hope.

An issue of complexity “Global climate change is the single biggest environmental threat facing the planet.”climate change

The Earth Summit 1992 Held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1992 Attended by over 170 governments and more than 2000 representatives from NGOs Included the Agenda 21 agreement – a wide ranging comprehensive action plan for achieving sustainable development worldwide Also included the UN Framework Convention on climate change

Summit Groups 1 Seychelles: Scott 2 Multi-national mining company: David 3 USA: Skye 4 Friends of the Earth: Evie 5 Multi-national nuclear fusion technology company: Joe 6 China: George

Summit agenda item By 2050 every nation needs to reduce by 50% their reliance upon non- renewable sources of energy and give 5% of GDP to research into adapting to the consequences of climate change.

Workshop 2 on Nov 2nd Earth summit simulation activity To explore the complexity of the climate change issue – in our next session we will debate a single agenda item. Each country/interest group will be expected to present a 5 min speech including a PowerPoint presentation. The PowerPoint presentations will be used as one of the elements of informal assessment for this module. The aim is that you will use this activity as yet another way to engage in the complexity of the issue and to draw from a systems thinking approach where you develop your argument in consideration of social, environmental, political, economic, present, futures, local, global dimensions etc. The timetable for our next workshop will be as follows Time to check presentations/ speeches are ready Open forum for different countries/interest groups to lobby each other – 1.50 Earth Summit and vote 1.50 – 2.00 Reflections and evaluations