T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Education for Sustainable Development

~ Making the abstract real ~

www.earthcharter.orgwww.cartadelatierra.orgwww.chartedelaterre.org

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Structure

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

The Earth Charter and Education

Resources

Conclusions

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

“It seeks to develop the knowledge, skills, perspectives and values to empower people of all

ages to assume responsibility for creating and enjoying a sustainable future.”(1)

ESD is also a process of learning how to make decisions that consider the long-term future of the

economy, ecology and equity of all.

What is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)?

(1) UNDESD Framework for the Int’l Implementation Scheme, UNESCO

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

ESD helps us to shift from a fragmented to an integrated approach of problem solving

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Some Key Themes of ESD

Overcoming Poverty

Gender Equality

Health

Environmental Protection

Rural Transformation

Human Rights

Intercultural Understanding and Peace

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Cultural Diversity

Participatory Processes

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

ESD brings together different spheres

SOCIAL

ECONOMIC

ENVIRONMENT

ESD

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Think critically

Make good decisions

Solve problems

Plan with an integrated approach

Resolve Conflicts

Communicate effectively

ESD helps one to:

Collaborate & cooperate with others

Move from awareness to action

Be a life-long learner

Have a systemic view of the world

Motivate others towards sustainability

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Educational process should be:

Participatory and inclusive Inter-disciplinary Student-centered View students as both learners

and teachers Contextualized and flexible Collaborative Transformative …

Pedagogical approaches for ESD

The ‘how’ we educate needs to be just as important as the ‘what’!

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Sustainable development is an urgent social and ecological need, and education

is an indispensable element for achieving it.

The United Nations declared the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

which began in 2005.

Why ESD?

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Structure

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

The Earth Charter and Education

Resources

Conclusions

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

A declaration of ethical principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society.

A process of dialogue, partnerships and activities that have become an ‘Initiative’.

What is the Earth Charter?What is the Earth Charter?

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

A Brief History of the Earth Charter Initiative

1987 -1992

Origins - The Brundtland Commission calls for “a new charter or universal declaration” on environment and development to “guide state and inter-state behavior.” UN Earth Charter process is stopped at Earth Summit; Rio Declaration adopted instead (1992)

1994 -2000

Phase 1 - Development and Global Consultation

Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev relaunch Earth Charter as a civil society initiative; drafting and consultation process begins (1994); Earth Charter Commission created (1997); 5,000 people contribute comments

2000 -2005

Phase 2 - Launch and EstablishmentFinal text approved and launched, and endorsement campaign begins (2000); Earth Charter promoted strongly at WSSD in Johannesburg, but not formally adopted (2002); local and grassroots action grows, important international endorsements continue (such as IUCN, 2004)

2006 - Phase 3 - Expansion with Action OrientationStrategic review conducted (2005); decision taken to expand the Initiative, with new international centers and programs, and intent to greatly increase awareness, impact, and active commitment to sustainable development

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The Earth Charter represents a Global Consensus on Sustainability and an

Ethical Call to Action

Protect ...

Care ...

Transmit ...

Adopt ...

Support ...

Reduce ...

Require ...

Eliminate ...

Honor ...

I. Respect for

nature

II. Universal human

rights

III. Economic justice

IV. Culture of peace

Core sustainability values + Responsibility to act =

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The Earth Charter is aUnifying Platform for Change

Clarifies sustainability

Covers all aspects

Builds legitimacy

Inspires and informs

Links local to global

Reaches from boardroom to community

Provides a common platform for action

Sets a high performance standard

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The core themes of the Earth Charter answer the needs of our society

The Community of Life

Differentiated Responsibility

Critical Challenges and Choices

Peace and Non-violence

Universal Responsibility

Partnerships Interdependence

Need: A culture of collaboration

Need: An advanced understanding of our shared global problems

Need: A framework for being ableto critically evaluate one’s situation

Core Themes

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The Earth Charter can help advance three fundamental educational objectives

Creation of partnerships:•Civil society•Business•Governments

Consciousness –raising

ApplicationOf values

Call for action

• Environmental problems• Social problems• Economic problems

• Guiding principles

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The Earth Charter:

1. Offers and integrated approach

2. Articulates the principles for promoting a sustainable future

3. A pedagogical tool for a culture of peace

Why is the Earth Charter an important tool for ESD?

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

The Earth Charter helps provide a high-level perspective, while empowering to act locally

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Structure

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

The Earth Charter and Education

Resources

Conclusions

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Posters

Brochures

Videos

Earth Charter in Action Book

Earth Charter Bibliography

The Earth Charter Initiative had developed a number of resources

Earth Charter Case Studies

Workbook for schools

Guidebook for teachers

Univ. course on ESD

Presentations

An Online Resource Center is available at www.earthcharter.org

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

Earth Charter in Action Book

• Demonstrates what sustainability principles mean in practice

• Examples from all over the world ... from biodiversity to business to rehabilitating child soldiers

• Authors include Mikhail Gorbachev, Wangari Maathai, Jane Goodall, Ruud Lubbers, HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal ... over 70 co-authors

• Is available to download at www.earthcharter.org

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

ConclusionsESD is about content as well as skills and values

The ‘how’ is often more important than the ‘what’

The Decade offers an opportunity to advance ESD initiatives at all education levels

The Earth Charter provides a valuable educational framework

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R I N I T I A T I V E

www.EarthCharter.org

T H E E A R T H C H A R T E R

I N I T I A T I V E

Contact:

Earth Charter International info@earthcharter.org