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What is Education for Sustainable Development?
"Education for sustainable development enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future."
UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development, 2005 to 2014
2005 to 2014 has been declared the "UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development," based upon the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) outcome that
"Education for Sustainable Development is an investment in our future ... each respective country should ensure that appropriate resources are made available for its development."
An improved quality of life is a goal for everyone
An improved quality of life for everyone requires finding new ways of living and learning that enables all of us to improve the quality of our neighbourhoods and sustain that improvement into the future. To achieve a present and a future that gives us good quality of life, we all need the skills, knowledge and values that enable us to live within the natural capacity of the earth. To achieve this goal we need to integrate sustainable development into everything we do.
The EFCF recognises that all people are entitled to a better quality of life and should be enabled, through learning, to participate in the decision-making processes and action that will bring it about.
The EFCF and its member federations are committed to sustainable development, (see EFCF constitution and Sustainable Development Green Paper 2001 on the website). An ESD Strategy will help City Farms promote learning and sustainable development. Furthermore, it will contribute to education and lifelong learning, increasing participation and providing high quality support to local schools and organisations.
Many City Farms are already well on the way to ensuring that they are good "role models", encouraging people to become involved in changing their community for the better and ensuring people are learning in a sustainable environment.
The need to understand how sustainability will affect organisations like City Farms is going to increase as legislation becomes tougher and cost savings become more important.
To transform a city farm, neighbourhood, city or region in a sustainable manner, education, in particular, education for sustainable development is essential.
An Education for Sustainable Development Strategy can help raise awareness of the benefits of sustainable development and equip people with the skills and knowledge needed to develop projects and initiatives that deliver integrated social, economic and environmental improvements at the same time.
The EFCF recommends the "seven pillars of wisdom" that should underpin a City Farm‘s education for sustainable development strategy
- Interdependence
Understanding how people, the environment and the economy are inextricably linked at all levels from local to global.
- Citizenship and Stewardship
Recognising the importance of taking individual responsibility and action to ensure the world is a better place.
- Needs and rights of future generations
Understanding your own basic needs and the implications for the needs of future generations of actions taken today.
- Diversity
Respecting and valuing human diversity - cultural, social and economic - and biodiversity.
- Quality of Life
Acknowledging that global equity and justice are essential elements of sustainability and that basic needs must be met universally.
- Sustainable change
Understanding that resources are finite and that this has implications for people‘s lifestyles, and for service and products providers.
- Uncertainty and precaution
Acknowledging that there is a range of possible approaches to sustainability and that situations are constantly changing, indicating a need for flexibility and lifelong learning.
I do and I understand
City Farms - learning about sustainability
The process of the education needs to emphasise active, enquiry-based, experiential and collaborative learning and real-world problem solving on their city farm and in the neighbourhood. It also increases group learning so people are able to effectively collaborate in solving complex problems.
Content - for example addressing
- Appropriate technology and appropriate capital investment
- Biodiversity, conservation, appropriate agriculture and animal welfare
- Citizenship, democracy, social inclusion, human rights, justice and stewardship
- Energy conservation and using and generating renewable energy
- Food: production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption
- Health: addressing poverty, education, fears and having fun!!
- International collaboration, development and peaceful co-existence
- 5R‘s: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle and Review
- Safety and security
- Trade - social enterprise, fair trade, local purchasing, bartering and LETS
- Water conservation, water harvesting and reuse
Context - for example
- Using the city farm and neighbourhood as a learning resource
- Making your City Farm a "role model" for sustainable practice
- Recognising connections between local and global
- Building on existing and relevant local initiatives
Approach - for example
- Exploring our own and others‘ values and perspectives
- Enquiry and issue-based learning
- Action based learning
- Experiential learning
- Facilitating decision-making skills
EFCF green paper, 4 January 2004
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