Transcript Document

The Role of Education in the
Pursuit of a Sustainable Future
LSF AGM
Charles Hopkins
UNESCO and UNU Chairs, York University
What is Sustainable Development
• Global Change (environment)
• Globalization (economic)
• Human Development (social/culture)
• Sustainable Development
Plus concepts of:
• intergenerational responsibility
• Need verses greed / equity
• Social justice, etc.
Many Questions
Sustaining what?
For whom?
Northern Issues
• Sustainable production and consumption
• 0.5 trillion in advertising
• 50% targeted at USA
• Working with “others”
• Developing global citizenship
• Redistribution of wealth and power
• Improving democracy
The Power of SD Remains Dormant
Locked in Isolated Issues
Clean
Air
AIDS
Prevention
Climate
Change
Equity
Sustainable
Consumption
Sustainable
Development
Poverty
Eradication
Peace
Biodiversity
Population
Growth
Many Paths to SD
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Good legislation/governance
Economic incentives
Overcoming corruption
Environmental protection
Human rights/security
Infrastructure (roads to banking)
40 issues identified in Agenda 21
“Education is a key and vital element
in moving sustainability forward…”
Report of the UN Sec. General
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Agenda 21(Rio)
Millennium Goals
Earth Charter
UN Commission for Sustainable
Development (CSD)
• WSSD (Johannesburg)
2. Facilitating Development Through
Improving Quality Education
• 100 million children ages 6 to
11 never attend school in the
developing countries
• 90% of school aged are in
developing/emerging nations
• Millions more are “undereducated” in both the South and
the North
Northern Problem As Well
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Hard to serve students suffer
Preferred learning style other than reading
Poverty related issues
Irrelevant curricula
Home/family related issues
Student/school conflict
The 4 Major Thrusts of ESD
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Public awareness and understanding
Access to quality basic education
Reorienting existing education
Training programs for all sectors
Agenda 21 -92, UNESCO-96, UNCSD -98, JPOI-2002
Reorienting formal ed. includes addressing
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Values
Principles
Perspectives
Knowledge
Skills
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Buildings
Program
Practices and Actions
What we value and
evaluate
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development 2005 to 2014
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UN General Council Resolution Dec 2002
UNESCO is the lead UN Agency
Mainly a coordinating role
Integrate with other Decades and programs
Mainly up to each country / state
Organization / institution / private sector etc.
Strengths Model: A Starting Point
• No single discipline/group/teacher can do
it all
• Every discipline/group/teacher can
contribute something
• Some can take lead roles in reorientation
Reorienting Informal and Non Formal Ed
• What can you contribute that could
help the UN DESD?
2 Key Websites
www.esdtoolkit.org
www.earthcharter.org
www.unesco.org/education/tlsf
Regional Centres of Expertise
in Education for Sustainable Development
A contribution by the United Nations University to the
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
RCE Objectives
• To help implement the education, public
awareness and training components of
Agenda 21, and the Millennium Dev. Goals
• To research and develop ESD
• To contribute to the success of the UN DESD
• To assist national sustainability plans
UNU Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Zoo / etc
Secondary
Peers
Gov’t agencies
Elementary
Society
Corp training
Preschool
Life Exp.
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Methodology
Engage the esd messengers (current and potential) within a community
Work together to identify and address community needs, relevant issues
Focus on improving pedagogy
Focus on integrating delivery mechanisms
Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Local Information
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Sources
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Regional/National
Zoo
Secondary
Peers
Gov’t
Elementary
Society
Private Sector
Corp training
Pre school
Life Exp.
Research (HE, NGO) etc.
Methodology 2
Engage the sources of locally relevant sustainabilty information
Infuse local issues data, information and programmes
Identify emerging issues
Collaborate with the messengers
Local Government
UNU Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Local Information
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Sources
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Regional/National
Zoo/etc
Secondary
Peers
Gov Agencies
Elementary
Society
Private Sector
Corp Training
Preschool
Life Exp.
Research (HE, NGO) etc.
Local Government
Outcomes
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• Improved academic outcomes
• More knowledgeable/supportive citizenry
• More sustainably oriented production and consumption
Perhaps a shift in behaviour as learning is relevant and in scale etc.
• Process is crucial
Why do we teach what we teach ?
• To preserve culture
• To prepare/train for work
• To care for environment
• To live a full, meaningful life
• To contribute to society
• To be creative and resourceful
• To live a religious life
• To live together in peace
• To be self-sufficient
What is the vision for our schools ?
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