Sustainable Development
The ECA believe that education is key to helping people understand the environmental challenges that face us and to develop the confidence and skills needed to empower them to take action. It also believes that principles of environmental sustainability need to be integrated throughout all forms of learning as a matter of course. The Association supports the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) which chimes with our own beliefs and 'seeks to integrate the principles, values and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental problems we face in the 21st century'.
'Education for sustainable development aims to help people to develop the attitudes, skills and knowledge to make informed decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, now and in the future and to act upon these decisions'.
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
The Association aims to be environmentally sustainable as an organisation and was an early signatory to the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change which commits the ECA to a sustained, comprehensive and accountable response to the challenge of climate change whilst encouraging similar action amongst those it works with.
Our work on education for sustainable development involves both project and policy work.
Projects
Family Fun with Autumn Fruits
Family Fun with Autumn Fruits was a family learning event organised jointly by the ECA and the West Norwich Partnership as part of the Family Learning and Learning Revolution Festivals held in October 2009. Based in a community centre, it attracted local participants from the West Norwich area. The day was based around using seasonal fruit and vegetables to create simple meals and snacks, with demonstrations given by a professional chef. Other activities included blind tastings using fresh and dried fruit, herb smell 'a' thon and making grape animals. A representative from the Sustainable Living Initiative who run the Grow-Our-Own (GO2) scheme on a local allotment was present to give advice on growing food. To see the recipes and information booklet given out on the day please click here.
Every Action Counts
The ECA was a member of the Consortium delivering the Defra funded Every Action Counts project from 2006-2009. Every Action Counts encouraged and supported voluntary and community groups to take action to become more environmentally friendly. The project recruited and trained individuals to act as 'Community Champions' and visit local groups to help them plan which actions they wanted to take. It also produced materials on different topics around sustainability for use by community development workers. The ECA's work on the project can be seen in greater detail by visiting the Every Action Counts page. To view Every Action Counts project resources visit our Every Action Counts Resources page.
Policy
Education for Sustainable Development Special Interest Group
The ECA is represented on NIACE's Education for Sustainable Development Special Interest Group which was formed in the latter part of 2010. The purpose of the group is to: -
- Share information on and debate policy issues
- Provide a forum for discussion of ESD practice, issues and challenges
- Provide members with a voice in policy responses and in national provider groups
- Provide an opportunity for members to contribute perspectives on ESD to NIACE advocacy, development and research work.
Skills for Sustainable Growth Strategy
In its response to the Skills for Sustainable Growth Consultation in 2010, the ECA highlighted in its introduction that the document did not seem to address the need for learning around and raising levels of environmental awareness. By this we mean both the raising of skills needed in a 'green technology' job market and those needed to face the enduring challenges of resource depletion and environmental change by all the population. It was pleased to see that the resulting Skills for Sustainable Growth Strategy contained references to higher skills enabling people to become more environmentally friendly and to apprenticeships 'supporting a programme with wider social, environmental and economic value'. Although glad to see environmental awareness, the 'green agenda' is now located within the strategy the Association would like to have seen it addressed in more detail.
To see the ECA consultation response click here.
European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
In the build up to the 2009 EAEA General Assembly, the ECA acted as the co-ordinator for the on-line Climate Change Thematic Group to discuss approaches to addressing this topic through adult learning initiatives.
During the event the Association also initiated the production of a letter which stated the need to address issues around environmental sustainability through adult learning which could be presented at Confintea VI, the sixth International Conference on Adult Education, later that year in advance of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Learning Revolution White Paper
The ECA believed that the consultation document 'Informal Adult Learning - Shaping the way ahead' which led to the Learning Revolution White Paper, launched in 2009, did not adequately address the importance of learning around environmental issues. The Association responded to this by organising 'The Environment as an Informal Adult Learning Issue' conference to help discuss and formulate consultation responses. The conference, which took place in May 2008, was endorsed by Joan Ruddock MP (then Minister for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste) and featured keynote speaker David Lammy MP (then Minister of Skills at DIUS). There was a range of speakers with backgrounds in adult education and/or environmental sustainability and the event was well received by delegates.
To find out more about the conference and hear soundbites from the speakers click here
Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning
In 2008 the ECA submitted evidence to the Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning under the theme of sustainable development.
The inquiry, sponsored by NIACE, asked experts from government, business, academia, trade unions, trade unions, public service providers, voluntary and community sector and learners to identify a broad consensus for the future direction of adult learning policy in the UK.
To read the ECA submission click here.
Defra Third Sector Strategy
The ECA formulated a considered response to 'A Defra Third Sector Strategy - a consultation on emerging issues and options' in 2008. The consultation led to the publication of Defra's Third Sector Strategy signalling the Department's commitment to working with the third sector.
The ECA were represented at the launch event for 'Shaping our Future: the joint ministerial and third sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development' report.