What is Education for Sustainability? Jason Hamilton Dept. of Environmental Studies & Sciences...

What is Education for Sustainability?

Jason HamiltonDept. of Environmental Studies & Sciences

Ithaca College

Capable of being sustained

Definition: Sustainability

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What is sustainability?

“Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.”

http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm#sustainability

Definition: Sustainability

At Walmart, we know that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together. Our broad environmental goals at Walmart are simple and straightforward:

To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy;To create zero waste;To sell products that sustain people and the environment.http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/

Definition: Sustainability

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

World Commission on Economic Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press.

Sustainability is……

A fundamental concept like “liberty” or “justice”

Alternative Energy

Preserving Biodiversity

Stopping Climate Change

Saving Trees

Green Building

Eating Tofu

First Basic Axiom of Sustainability

The current state of people is not a morally acceptable endpoint

People Below the Poverty Line

http://www.indexmundi.com/map/?t=0&v=69&r=xx&l=en

Zimbabwe 95% Turkmenistan 60%

Haiti 41%

People Living With Water Insecurity

Second Basic Axiom of Sustainability

The current state of people is not a morally acceptable endpoint

We have reached a state where we are negatively impacting the ability of future generations to live

“Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the

planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”

“Nearly two thirds of the services provided by nature to humankind are found to be in decline worldwide.”

Time before 2005 (years)

Figure SPM.1

Carbon Dioxide (ppm)

Methane(ppb)

Nitrous Oxide(ppb)

10000 5000 0

Proof that global warming is real

The State of Our Global Temperature

Muir Glacier, Alaska August 1941

Photos by Bruce Molnia, USGS.

The State of Our Global Temperature

Photos by Bruce Molnia, USGS.

Muir Glacier, Alaska August 2004

Third Basic Axiom of Sustainability

The current state of people is not a morally acceptable endpoint

We have reached a state where we are negatively impacting the ability of future generations to live

The major types of problems have to be addressed simultaneously: there is no ranking of importance

Sustainability is the mindset that considers the systemic connections among the major challenges facing humans

impaired immune function

Increased rates of polio and measles

respiratory problems in children

pollution from flaring

Royal Dutch Shell Exxon Mobil Corp

Chevron

vaccination for polio & measles

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Money

Money

reduced

vaccination

rateReduced rates of polio and measles

&

Fourth Basic Axiom of Sustainability

The current state of people is not a morally acceptable endpoint

We have reached a state where we are negatively impacting the ability of future generations to live

The major types of problems have to be addressed simultaneously: there is no ranking of importance

The system isn’t broken

THE CENTRAL LAW OF IMPROVEMENT

Every system is perfectly designed to

achieve the results it achieves.

Donald Berwick

So where do we keep going wrong?

The “50 simple things...” Trap

The Basic Axioms of Sustainability

• The current state of people is not a morally acceptable endpoint

• We have reached a state where we are negatively impacting the ability of future generations to live

• The major types of problems have to be addressed simultaneously: there is no ranking of importance

• The system isn’t broken

Healthy People

Physical Health

Physical HealthMenta

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Physical HealthMenta

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h

Em

otio

nal H

ealth

Physical HealthMenta

l H

ealt

h

Em

otio

nal H

ealth

Spiritu

al H

ealth

Healthy People

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy Communities

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy Communities

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy Communities

Healthy Trade

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy Communities

Healthy Trade

Healthy People

Healthy Environment

Healthy Communities

Healthy Trade

Moving Beyond a Sustainability “Mission Statement”

• Goals

• Useful approaches

• Ways to measure progress

Sustainability is the mindset that considers the systemic connections among the major challenges facing humans

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

• Achieve universal primary education

• Promote gender equality

• Reduce child mortality

• Improve maternal health

• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc.

• Ensure functioning of Earth’s life support system

• Develop a global partnership for development

Sustainability: DESD

The UN has declared this the Decade of Education for

Sustainable Development and called for a complete rethinking of the role of education in our world

Sustainability must become the guiding focus and organizing principle of

everything we do.

What?

Learning that is about knowledge and also about doing, being, interacting with others and changing the world

Why?

Prepares learners to enter the workforce as well as handle a crisis, be resilient, become responsible citizens, adapt to change, recognize and solve local problems with global roots, meet other cultures with respect, and create a peaceful and sustainable society

How?

Learning that is enjoyable, hands-on and relevant to life outside school while addressing the problems of our world

Complexity, Systems & Design Thinking

Place-based & Locally Relevant

Agents of change

Sustainability-Oriented Content

Core Learning Objectives of Education for Sustainability:

Ethical/affective values based

Sustainability Must Become Second Nature

Sustainability is about all choices and connections

InvestmentChoices

FormalEducation

CommunityInvolvement

Spiritual Life Personal

Development

PoliticalChoices

Consumption Choices