The Sound of Transformation – The Salzburg Statement for Education Transformation sets out questions for education systems to consider. The Statement says that a “growing consensus for education transformation is emerging to prepare young people for their futures and our sights need to be set on transformation, not reform. While reform starts with processes and improves the system, transformation begins with values and mindsets and changes the purpose of the system. Reform results in a better version of existing systems; transformation results in different systems. To equip every young person to thrive throughout life, we must focus on transformation and less on reform and incremental improvement.” By clicking on the link (above) you will see what Saltzberg has to say about sustainable development, and the climate and ecological emergencies we face. Its 8 key questions invite a comparison with NAEE’s recently-published manifesto.
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6500 Teachers – The new Pearson School Report, indicates what more than 6,500 teachers think about education in England, including their challenges and hopes for the future. It includes their views on sustainability and climate education, mental health and wellbeing, and the impact of world events.
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Issues Controversial – Oxfam has updated its guide to teaching controversial issues. The guide explores what controversial issues are, the reasons for teaching them, and the value of a global citizenship education approach. It sets out guidance and classroom strategies for handling and exploring controversial issues, and provides practical activities. Oxfam says that the new guide recognises the changes in social and political contexts over recent years and seeks to support educators in their discussions with young people.
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Gaia 20:30 – Teachers from 15 countries submitted ideas to the Gaia 20:30 Biodiversity Lesson Plan competition. You can see the winners and shortlisted entries here.
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Green Shoots – The Royal Society of Chemistry has been looking at sustainability and climate change in the chemistry curriculum. It asked young people, educators, and chemists working in academia and industry across the UK and Ireland what they thought of the way climate change and sustainability are currently taught in science and chemistry lessons. The RSC has published the findings in two reports. If you are interested in discussing this work please contact EducationPolicy@rsc.org
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Marine Debris – The Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) asks how can we help solve the world’s most pressing issues affecting our marine ecosystems? Its 2022 Youth Innovation Challenge gives young people around the world a chance to explore innovative solutions to the issue of marine debris. In partnership with the Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration, GEEP invites applicants between the ages of 15–30 to propose a solution to marine debris that incorporates elements of environmental education. They are looking for solutions that are innovative, feasible, and informed by research. You can learn more here.
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50 Years On – Fifty Years after the iconic 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, how close are we to realizing its vision of a healthy planet? To mark the anniversary, groups from round the world went back to Stockholm. The official outcome of the gathering is a document with ten recommendations including: *Place human well-being at the centre of a healthy planet and prosperity for all; *Adopt system wide change in the way our current economic system works to contribute to a healthy planet; *Align public and private financial flows with environmental, climate and sustainable development commitments; and *Recognize intergenerational responsibility as a cornerstone of sound policy-making. There is no mention of education or learning.
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Foghlam Alba – Education Scotland has a new directory in spreadsheet format that provides details of organisations and providers who can support teaching and learning with activities, awards, resources, talks, volunteers, professional learning and onsite visits.
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Beyond the DfE – On July 7th, Wellington College is hosting a forum on Sustainability: Beyond the DfE’s climate change policy. NAEE Vice President Mick Waters will be speaking along with Emma Knights, chief executive of the National Governance Association, Dawn Haywood, CEO of the Windsor Academies Trust, and Nicola Walshe, Executive director of UCL’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education.
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Youth Action – RSPB is currently recruiting campaigners to join its Youth Action Panel. This is a new project that will support young people to protect and connect with nature across Essex, Kent and London.
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#NationalMeadowsDay – The first Saturday in July is National Meadows Day. This is an annual event to celebrate the UK’s meadows, perhaps even to visit one to see them at their midsummer best and to raise awareness of this endangered habitat. Plantlife says that National Meadows Day is a day of events and activities including open meadows, walks, mowing and hay-making, courses on ID, bees, rural crafts, art activities, children’s activities and scything competitions. Of course, any day in July is as good as the first Saturday for doing all this.
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Culicodes impunctatus – We are not sure where the feared Scottish blood-sucking midge fits into ecosystem services but last year was a great one for them with an estimated 139 billion looking for a mate. This year looks like a good one as well (depending on your point of view) because of the weather up to the present. The Scottish Midge Forecast uses data collected from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across the country to keep us all aware and wary.
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Greener than Thou – Morteza Abolhasani, Gordon Liu, and Zahra Golrokhi (from the Open University) write in The Conversation about the problems of Greenwashing and how to avoid the tricks of the trade. They write: “The green advertising trend – featuring ads that explicitly or implicitly address the relationship between a product or service and the natural environment, promote a green lifestyle, or present a corporation as environmentally responsible – is growing fast. Many ads now feature a range of clever tactics, from filling your screen with green to using vague terms like “all-natural”, designed to convince you the products they’re selling are good for the planet. There is much here to engage an eco-club.
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The Nuclear Family – Anyone looking for a round-up of news about nuclear power generation across the world could do much worse than read the Economist’s recent review: Energy security gives climate-friendly nuclear-power plants a new appeal. There’s a particular focus on Hinckley Point C (HP-C) as well as a look at the possibility of smaller, modular reactors. Many points stand out; in particular that 60% of the overall cost of HP-C will be the interest charges on the sum borrowed to finance the build.