Education+for+Sustainability

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 * Sustainability****:** Sustainability is an ecological, economic, social and political concept. A sustainable society is one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Vision
A shared vision is an important element of a whole-school approach to environmental education for sustainability. The vision has implications for how schools are organised and the roles that are assumed by administrators, teachers, parents and students. It envisages: Schools as: flexible learning organisations where reflection and evaluation are valued and sustainability and community are central; School leadership teams as: supportive, proactive, and actively involved in implementing and growing all aspects of environmental education for sustainability in the school; Teachers as: enthusiastic about teaching and about developing effective relationships with their students, committed to the goals of education for sustainability, life-long learners, adaptable, and open to new ideas and teaching strategies; and Students as: active, self-directed and collaborative learners and ethical and responsible citizens taking action for a sustainable future. Once developed, a vision is not static but is part of a regular cycle of refl ection, replanning and evaluation. The vision informs and is informed by the goals and objectives that follow.

Goals
Environmental education for sustainability involves approaches to teaching and learning that integrate goals for conservation, social justice, cultural diversity, appropriate development and democracy into a vision and a mission of personal and social change. This involves developing the kinds of civic values and skills that empower all citizens to be leaders in the transition to a sustainable future. The long-term goals of environmental education for sustainability include developing the capacities of students to: • understand and value the interdependence of social, cultural, economic and ecological dimensions at local, national and global levels; • reflect critically upon how this interdependence affects communities, workplaces, families and individuals and be able to make appropriate decisions; • develop attitudes and skills which are conducive to the achievement of a sustainable future; • appreciate and respect the intrinsic value of the whole environment and a sense of the sacred; • develop an ethic of personal responsibility and stewardship towards all aspects of the environment; and • participate as active and involved citizens in building a sustainable future.

Learning objectives
Schools implementing this vision will plan learning experiences that enable students to achieve the following learning objectives or outcomes. Some are specific to environmental education for sustainability, while others are more generic and relevant across several or all key learning areas.

Key concepts and themes of education for sustainability

sustainability || Social sustainability || Economic sustainability || Political sustainability ||
 * Ecological
 * Biodiversity || Basic human needs || Cost-benefit analysis || Citizenship ||
 * Habitat || Cultural diversity || Economic development || Democracy ||
 * Carrying capacity || Cultural heritage || Eco-efficiency || Decision making ||
 * Conservation || Human rights || Life-cycle analysis || Tolerance ||
 * Ecological footprint || Intergenerational equity || Natural capital || Power ||
 * Ecology || Participation || Natural resource accounting || Respect ||
 * Ecospace || Peace || accounting || Conflict resolution ||
 * Ecosystems || Risk management || Steady-state economy ||  ||
 * Interspecies equity || Social justice || Sustainable consumption ||  ||
 * Natural cycles and systems ||  || Sustainable production ||   ||
 * ||  || Triple bottom line ||   ||

** Principles of Sustainable Development ** Many governments and individuals have pondered what sustainable development means beyond a simple one-sentence definition. The //Rio Declaration on Environment and Development// fleshes out the definition by listing 18 principles of sustainability.


 * People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
 * Development today must not undermine the development and environment needs of present and future generations.
 * Nations have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but without causing environmental damage beyond their borders.
 * Nations shall develop international laws to provide compensation for damage that activities under their control cause to areas beyond their borders.
 * Nations shall use the precautionary approach to protect the environment. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, scientific uncertainty shall not be used to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
 * In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process, and cannot be considered in isolation from it. Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living standards in different parts of the world are essential to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of the majority of people.
 * Nations shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.
 * Nations should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and promote appropriate demographic policies.
 * Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens. Nations shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making environmental information widely available.
 * Nations shall enact effective environmental laws, and develop national law regarding liability for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. Where they have authority, nations shall assess the environmental impact of proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact.
 * Nations should cooperate to promote an open international economic system that will lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries. Environmental policies should not be used as an unjustifiable means of restricting international trade.
 * The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution.
 * Nations shall warn one another of natural disasters or activities that may have harmful transboundary impacts.
 * Sustainable development requires better scientific understanding of the problems. Nations should share knowledge and innovative technologies to achieve the goal of sustainability.
 * The full participation of women is essential to achieve sustainable development. The creativity, ideals and courage of youth and the knowledge of indigenous people are needed too. Nations should recognize and support the identity, culture and interests of indigenous people.
 * Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development, and Nations shall respect international laws protecting the environment in times of armed conflict, and shall cooperate in their further establishment.
 * Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.

In the Science domain, issues which need to be considered for sustainability include: the conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity; dealing judiciously with risk, uncertainty and irreversibility; ensuring appropriate valuation of environmental assets; integration of environmental and economic goals in government and institutional policies and activities; social equity (both intragenerational and intergenerational); and community participation

Education for Sustainability integrated curriculum = =