Environmental Education in the context of DESD
in the Asia Pacific
AEEAP 2008-12, Side EventWorld Conference on ESD, Bonn
Mr Mahesh PradhanUNEP/ROAP/RRC.AP
1 April 2009
State of the environment
Air Releasing atmospheric pollutants faster than nature can absorb them
LandCutting trees faster than
they can regenerate and converting them to deserts soil erosion exceeds new
soil formation
WaterOverpumping aquifers and melting glaciers and drain rivers dry
Biodiversity Destroying plant and animal
species far faster than new species can evolve.
Indoor
Urban
Regional
Global
Air CO2 emission: 1800-1950 > 0.2 ppm/p.a1960 < 1.3 ppm/p.a6 fold increaseDust Storm in NE AsiaAtmospheric Brown Cloud
State of the environment
WaterDemand tripled in last 50 yearsGround water table falling (1m p.a.)Rivers dry (e.g Yellow River, Amu Darya)Glaciers retreating
State of the environment
-40
-20
0
20
40
1995 2000 2020 2040
Projected water deficit (-) / Surplus (+) for dry season in Mekong basin
Surp
lus
Deficit
000 MCM
LandLand degradation:
Soil erosion(e.g. Ethiopia 1b tons p.a.)
Deforestation(‘75-’90: 220m hectares
20% Pasture and rangeland damaged
State of the environment
Arable and Permanent Crops (M ha)
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Developing
Developed
Biodiversity Species extinct (1972-
2002)24 percent mammals and 12
percent bird
Between 1970 & 2000Population of terrestrial species
declined by 30%Population of fresh water species
declined by 50%Population of marine species
declined by 30%
Deforestation rate14.6 million ha annually
State of the environment
387 ha of forest is removed every year in Myanmar.
1985/86
ForestAgriculture
1992/93
The Asia Pacific RegionThe Asia Pacific Region
40% of Global Economy
Rest of theworld
AsiaPacific
Over 60% of Population
Rest of theworld Asia
Pacific
Over 70% of Poor
Rest ofthe world
AsiaPacific
National Level Capacity Building for Environment Management
Air, Water, Land, Biodiversity in critical state: Natural Disasters
Focus on MDGsWSSD Follow-upNational Strategies for SDInitiatives for Environment Treaties
Sub-regional Partnerships
SPREPIGCI, USP, UNDP
ASEAN, GMS, MRCAIT, TEI, IUCN, UNDP
SAARC, ICIMOD,SACEP
BCAS, DA, TERISDPI, Sarvodaya, IUCN,
UNDP
ISDCSIC, UNDP
TEMMADORC, IGES, NIES, NIER, Tongji IESD,
EPLC, UNDP
Mega Issue Mega Issue -- UrbanizationUrbanization
• Asia will have an urban level of 54% by 2030 • 40 % of the poor are already in urban areas• The urban transition will receive a massive investment over the next 50 years• Infrastructure last for 80 – 100 years• Ensure “zero emission” in housing and mobility
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
24%
54%(2.6 billion)
37%(1.4 billion)
Source: World Population Prospects
Urb
an P
opul
atio
n ( M
i llio
ns)
01975 2000 2030
Water SecurityWater Security
•Demand 60 lt 600 lt per capita;•Supply: ground water depletion up to 6 m;•Surface water pollution plus depletion at source;•Silent Tsunami
FOOD SECURITY
Decreasing water table
Increasing temperature
Increasing supply to cities
Decreasing supply to agriculture 2003
105 million tons grain short fall
(largest in the record)
• 3 of the 4 warmest years on record came during the last 4 years
• 2004 was the 5th consecutive year in which the harvest falls short of consumption
Energy SecurityEnergy Security
Source: Himal South Asia
Existing domestic networks and proposed international Existing domestic networks and proposed international gaslinesgaslinesPlaned Planed natural gas natural gas pipeline from pipeline from Myanmar to Myanmar to India through India through BangladeshBangladesh
PovertyPoverty
(Source World Bank)
Each figure represents 10 million persons living on $1 a day or less at 1985 international prices.
900 million people in Asia-Pacific are poor and it is 70% of the worlds poor people.
II. EE/ESD Background/Concepts
Landmark events1972: UNCHE – Principle 191975: Tbilisi Conf – EE1992: Agenda 21: Chapter 352002: WSSD: DESD, 2005-20142009: World Conference on DESD: Mid-Term Review
ConceptsNew generation of leadershipGlobal environmental citizenshipSpectrum: Awareness, training, education
Knowledge, skills, behaviour/values
UNEP update
Medium Term Strategy 2010-13:Climate ChangeDisasters and ConflictEcosystem ManagementEnvironmental GovernanceHazardous WastesResource Efficiency
Implementation MechanismsSound ScienceAwareness and OutreachCapacity building and Technology SupportCooperation, Coordination and PartnershipsSustainable Financing for the global environment
EET within UNEP
Environmental Education is fundamental to the achievement of the goal of SD.
Education, awareness raising and training are essential to UNEP fulfilling its mandate of inspiring informing and enabling nations and peoples to achieve SD
EET in UNEP undertakes this crucial function by developing and strengthening EE and training initiatives to address all institutions, governments, segments, and ages in society
UNEP Tongji IESD
Established on May 9, 2002 Agreement to establish IESD jointly by UNEP and Tongji University for 5 yearsTongji University: Centennial celebrations, May 2007Agreement renewed in May 2007 for 5 more years
Regional University ConsortiumUNEP Asia-Pacific University Consortium on Environment for Sustainable Development
Established on Sep.17th , 2003
Members: Tongji University Griffith University University of New South Wales Nanyang Technological University Asian Institute of TechnologyUnited Nations UniversityWollongong UniversityYale University
Providing counseling , assistance and resource persons for the program of IESD, including education, training and research
Charter, Bye Laws, 5 year business plan
IESD/RUC activitiesEducation
International Master’s Program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Research Partnership with RUC members, different colleges inside Tongji University, international agencies and universitiesFocused on applied SD
OutreachAnnual Leadership Programmes on Environment for Sustainable Development
IESD/RUC: Education
International Master’s Program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
(Launched in September 2006)PhD – started 2008 onwardsBachelors – 2009/10 onwardsAlso bottoms up: Primary - SecondaryModel curriculum packaged and disseminated for local adaptation
IESD/RUC Research:
To reinforce postgraduate education;To support UNEP’s research requirements;To reinforce Tongji University’s research; To address regional research needs:
Sustainable River Basin ManagementEco-City Planning and ManagementSustainable Development EnterpriseEnergy SecurityBioprocess and Environmental Technology
IESD/RUC Outreach:Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable DevelopmentOrganizing Institutions:
UNEP-Tongji IESDUNEP/ROAP and RUC
Supporting Institutions: Hanns Seidel Foundation IndonesiaMinistry of Education of ChinaLuo Hong
Timeframe: One week to ten days Annual ProgrammeOffered in 2004-2014
Participants: Approx. 200+ applications/yr25-35 participants/yrMore than 120 alumni (2008)
Course Module
HUMAN
MIND
BODY
SOUL
ENVIRONMENTSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT
ECON
SOCIETY
ENV
AIR
LANDWATER
Three Dimensions of UNEPThree Dimensions of UNEP--Tongji Leadership ProgrammeTongji Leadership Programme
Other Sub-regional activities
SPREPEducation for a Sustainable Pacific, 2006-2008Curriculum reviewTraining for Young leaders
South AsiaSAEETAP, 2003-07Formal, nonformal, information and capacity buildingPartnership with SIDA and CEE
Northeast AsiaTEEN
National level
MongoliaCurriculum reviewNational strategyInter-Ministerial coordination
DPR KoreaJoint project with UNDP
Maldives, NepalModel curriculum with CEE support
AEEAP Launch and Implementation Workshop, 14-16 July 2008, Cha-amIGES/UNEP Regional Strategy Consultation Meeting on ESD in Southeast Asia, 17-18 November 2008, Bangkok
AEEP 2008-12
The overall outcome of the successful implementation of the AEEAP will be a region that feels an increased connection and cooperative spirit in forging new societies based on the principles of ecological, social and economic sustainability.
Target Area 1: Formal Sector
Policy LevelAll countries have adopted EESD policies and emphasized the integration of EE into the school curriculum.Some countries also have a national master plan on EESD: NEEAP of SD (2005-2014) in Philippines, 30 year long term education play in Myanmar, and EESD master plan (2008-2012) in Thailand.
Target Area 1: Formal Sector
National StructureOnly Cambodia has an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for EE, established by Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and Ministry of Culture and Regional Affairs.
Target Area 1: Formal Sector
EESD in SchoolsAll countries continue to favor nature conservation incorporated into the study of science, geography, social science, and eco-clubs.All countries have produced EE modules and materials quite a number at all level of education as well as teacher guide.
Target Area 1: Formal Sector
ChallengesHowever, teachers in most countries have little experience and skills of integration into their subjects as well as across all subject areas, except Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.The most difficulty of integration is due to involvement with many teachers from different subjects.
Target Area 1: Formal Sector
EESD in UniversityAll countries have EE subjects/courses in universities both for bachelor degrees and master degrees.However, EE is still NOT a “must”compulsory subject/course that students have to study.
Target Area 2: Non-formal Sector
Sustainable SchoolsMalaysia: 4 components/criteria (Management Curriculum, Co-curriculum, greening activities); Award ProgrammeThailand: ‘Eco School Indicator Framework’Brunei:
The Philippines: Eco-waste friendly schools
Community levelMalaysia (‘Env. Awareness camp’: 7 modules/ ‘Community environmental hero’)Laos (Health, income generation) Cambodia (livelihood programme/ religious groups, monk education) Singapore: Champions (community as well as corporations/schools)Philippines (incorporation of EE into alternative education/ technical education; downloadable educational materials)Myanmar (educational materials and seminars for villagers)
Target Area 2: Non-formal SectorEnvironmentally Sustainable Cities
Malaysia (Environment Awards)….
Environmentally Sustainable BusinessBrunei: Multi-stakeholder working group to facilitate participation of various actorsSingapore: ‘Corporate and School Partnership’ (CASP; former ‘Adopt-a-school programme’ )
160 partnerships (incl. special/ international schools)Brunei: ‘Adopt-a-school programme’
Various awards
ASEAN Environment WeekBrunei: Handbook/kit, national level programmes and activities to commemorate the Week
Target Area 3: Manpower
Training Centres: EiMAS (Malaysia), STEP Centre (Brunei), Waterhub/SEI (Singapore)Refresher/Training courses: All AMCsEE study tours: VietnamScholarships: ThailandLeadership Training: Women (Malaysia)
Target Area 4: Networking
Magazines: Malaysia, Singapore, Collaboration with media: Malaysia, MyanmarAudio visual materialsLibraries/CEPANational workshops: VietnamWorking Group: LaosASEAN Youth Network: Brunei, Philippines, Singapore (Concert)Civil Society/NGO Networks: Philippines, Singapore,Recognition/Awards:
Recommendations
There is a need to establish an EE secretariat and EE working group as there are no national coordinator currently. The working group may be guided by a steering committee lead by DOE, NRE.Seed funds should be given to support new or innovative initiatives on EE.Provide more training opportunities for practitioners and build capacity on EE resources and expertise.Establish a EE database and a EE portal for the country. The EE portal or web‐site should be user‐friendly.Groundwork should be done to formulate accreditation for EE programmes.Effective and continuous regional exchange of knowledge, skills, experience, expertise and best practicesDevelop a social marketing strategy in collaboration with concerned private sectors for raising awareness and understanding of EESD to wider public Organize the ASEAN EESD awards such as documentary film awardDevelop the ASEAN EESD online newsletter Promote the mainstreaming of EE/ESD in formal education system
Recommendations
ASEAN EE for Sustainable Development Leadership Training Programmes (short courses) for various target groups:ASEAN Forum on the Development of Policy, Guidelines, Framework and Recognition/ Awards Scheme for Sustainable/
Green SchoolsASEAN-wide Educational Field Visits (ex. Private sector involvement model in Singapore’s Adopt-A-School Program, etc.)Establishing a Secretariat body independent of the ASEAN Secretariat to overlook the Environmental EducationTo form ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education for Sustainable DevelopmentRegional sharing of the experiences and expertise could be made via forums or networking via the web on a regional level
Recommendations
To strengthen cooperation between formal and non-formal educationTo educate widely, the local people on the importance of conservationTo let the people know that the only place where we can live and thrive is the mother earth aloneTo put value on ecosystemsTo closely collaborate between AMCs as well as UN and other organisationsThere is a need for the developed countries to train those from the developing countries in the fields of conservation
Recommendations
Teachers of all disciplines in general education schools must be trained regularly Investments in new equipment Cooperation with other relevant government ministries in promoting EE Organizing surveys to evaluate EE/ESD demandOrganizing national workshops on EE for Sustainable Development
Recommendations
Training of trainersProvide environmental knowledge to in-services and pre-service teachers,Youth exchange program (Youth Camps, Youth Environmental Debate, etc.),Scholarships on EE degree and non-degree courses,EE funding?
Some Considerations
Ownership – AEEAP, if not/so what ?Joint projects/Scaling up Best PracticesRegional initiatives:
ASEAN Eco schoolsASEAN Environment WeekASEAN youth networkLeadership ProgrammesClearing House Mechanisms…Awards schemes
+3 Partnerships - proposals
Opportunities
MTS areas – Climate Change Knowledge Platform (UNEP), Cambodia
(UNESCO), Vietnam (UNESCO), Laos (PEI)Youth – SEAYEN, YouthXchangeCivil SocietyADB – GMSIGESHSF