"Active Education for Sustainable Development- From Theory to Good Practice " ECO-UNESCO Charlotte Ab Ifan Dharsh Pillay Education & Training Officer Environmental Youth Officer

ECO – UNESCO Video

ECO – UNESCO Established in 1986  National Environmental Education and Youth Organisation –  Affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations. (WFUCA)  Specialise in Environmental Education and environmental work with young people National Director: Elaine Nevin NOT FOR PROFIT

What WE Do?  RAISE environmental awareness in children and young people.  PROTECT and conserve the environment.  PROMOTE the personal development of young people through practical environmental projects.

- Teacher & Leader modules - ECO Youth CHOICES - Youth for Sustainable Development-Peer Education Programme (TY-students) - Environmental Workshops - Events and activities - ECO-UNESCO Clubs How ? Develop Educational Publications Education & Training Programmes Young Environmentalist Awards Programme Irelands all-island environmental awards programme for young people

Why we Do it? Environmental Sustainability One Earth

Environmental Education ? ‘Through environmental education young people gain wider knowledge, experience and understanding of the world in which they live…….begin to appreciate differences in ways of thinking, working and viewing the world……gradually develop attitudes informed by understanding social and environmental issues that affect them personally, locally, nationally and globally. ’

What is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)? Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) develops and strengthens the capacity of individuals, groups, communities and organisations to make judgements and choices in favour of sustainable development

Thinking about Sustainable Development…. Definition: ‘ … development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’ Brundtland Report 1987

The Twin Imperatives of Sustainable Development “Securing a world based on social justice and democratic accountability” “Living within our environmental limits” (Porritt, 2008)

Video Clip What are the key themes in the clip?

What do you see?

UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development 4 key areas of Education for Sustainable Development 1.Improving Basic Education 2.Reorienting Existing Education 3.Public Understanding and Awareness 4.Training

ESD Theme Themes in ESD include  poverty alleviation  citizenship  Peace  Ethics  responsibility in a local and global context,  democracy and governance  Justice  security  human rights  health  gender equity  cultural diversity  production and consumption patterns  corporate responsibility  environmental protection  natural resource management  biological and landscape diversity

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development 1.Knowledge 2.Skills 3.Perspective 4.Values 5.Risks

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development 1.Knowledge  People need basic knowledge from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to understand the principles of sustainable development, how they can be implemented, the values involved and ramifications of their implementation. Knowledge is power?…

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development 2. Skills:  ESD to be successful must give people practical skills that will enable them to have sustainable livelihoods and to live sustainable lives. These skills will differ according to community conditions. eg: o The ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) o The ability to think about systems (both natural and social sciences) o The ability to think in time - to forecast, to think ahead, and to plan o The capacity to move from awareness to knowledge to action

5 Key Areas of Education for Sustainable Development 3. Perspectives:  ESD requires perspectives that understand global issues as well as local issues in a global context  Understanding roots of an issue and being able to forecast possible outcomes is part of ESD i.e. over consumption of consumer goods such as paper leads to deforestation, which in turn is thought to be related to global climate change

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Methods The Key to ESD is that it doesn’t teach a particular subject but requires participants to consider different issues regarding sustainable development = deeper understanding of some key principles ie change  Simulation games  Discussions  Roleplay  Brainstorming  Group work  Practical activities

To a man with a hammer, everything’s a nail

Teaching methods Active learning Structured discussions Simulation games and role-play Debate Issue tracking Photographs, artwork and images Surveys/questionnaire Working with texts

ECO-Unesco and ESD

Young Environmentalist Awards

Our 2007 Project: Compost, worms, teabags and beyond… Grosvenor Grammar School

Eco Carers 07/08/09

Final Tip ! From Grosvenor Grammar School  Make it FUN!  Don’t take it all too seriously. Remain optimistic.  Encourage a few trips and fun days out.

William Butler Yeats Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.