Action for Climate Empowerment – Prof Justin Dillon, NAEE President, recently posted an NAEE blog on his thoughts after attending a stakeholder workshop for Advancing Action for Climate Empowerment in the UK. The term ‘Action for Climate Empowerment’ (ACE) was adopted by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). ACE encompasses actions carried out under Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement (2015). Here’s a link to what UCL posted about the event.
.
Elephant Times – In the context of the need for fresh thinking linked to COP28, Elephant Times aspires to stimulate conversations within the education community and with those concerned about, or campaigning on, climate issues. The latest edition highlights the needs of learners, the role of teachers, and the culture of schools to explore the potential of an education-driven agenda responding to the climate crisis. It proposes that conversations about a teacher entitlement approach are key to the change needed. This would complement, and be stimulated by, other climate change responses but be rooted in the educational function of schools meeting the needs of learners. Feedback please by email or here.
.
Storm worse than ever today – Drawing on school logbooks, the Inkcap Journal has details of how teachers in the Outer Hebrides saw how islanders coped with a period of particularly stormy weather. Inkcap says that “in their resilience is a lesson for the future”.
.
Connecting children and young people with nature – On Tuesday 28th November 10:30 – 12:00, WWT will be showcasing initiatives that help children and young people grow a stronger sense of nature connectedness. Specifically:
- Sarah White and Suzie Paton from The Ernest Cook Trust will share the work of The OWL Collaboration with a storytelling reel and reflection on the impact of an Outdoor Week of Learning on young people’s connection to nature, and
- Mark Stead from WWT will share the Generation Wild project, which uses storytelling and adventure to help children and families from disadvantaged communities to create lasting and meaningful connections with nature.
Click here to register.
.
Positive Numbers – The 2023 Rebooting Education report says:
- 15% of teachers are willing to be Sustainability Leads, three times the needed amount.
- 85% of teachers lack confidence in the current education system’s preparation for the future.
- 69% of teachers want more curriculum space for sustainability topics like environment, peace, and global citizenship
The report “collates the thoughts, insights and experiences of 7,000 educators, informing how we can create a regenerative, transformative, green education system”.
.
School Action Project – The InterClimate Network is offering a free climate action project that aims to help implement the new UK Strategy for Sustainability and Climate Change. The network says that it will increases 11–18-year olds’ say in sustainability decisions that directly affect them, and develop new knowledge and skills, including through learning with experts. To take part you need a team of students to manage the project. ICN then provides an insights report exploring current climate actions, challenges and motivators. After this, students are supported to run a campaign for action within their school and given access to webinars (along with teachers) to boost their skills in climate action. To apply please email schools@interclimate.org
.
D&C Days – Development and Climate Days returns this year for a one-day, in-person event on 7 December. D&C Days will provide a day of discussions and open dialogue to put the spotlight on the slow progress and inaction hindering our progress towards meeting the world’s climate goals. Find out more here.
.
Green Speak – The USA focused LEED Curriculum teaches the core concepts of sustainability in the built environment, operations, and management using a rating system. There is a 25-minute video overview that explains how to customize their curriculum materials to fit your programme, class or curriculum.
.
Angels – The DERC partnership project the Academic Network on Global Education & Learning (ANGEL) has confirmed the dates of this year’s webinar series, which provides a regular series of shorter, research-focused events for Global Education professionals, as well as anyone with an interest in research in the fields of Development Education, Global Citizenship Education, Human Rights Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Peace, and Intercultural Education. The 2024 dates are:
- 17 Jan: New opportunities for action with the revised UNESCO Recommendation concerning education for international understanding, co-operation and peace and education relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms
- 13 Feb: Perspectives on Meaningful Action and Engagement in Primary education.
- 20 Mar: The individual, social cohesion, and democratic citizenship in the age of educational capitalism
.
Neurodivergence – Louise Taylor, from Queen’s University Belfast, says in an article for The Conversation that Greta Thunberg is far from the only neurodivergent climate activist – many who see the world differently also want to change it. The article explores how people with autism, bipolar disorder and other conditions spoke can find purpose in environmental activism.
.
50 Shades of Sustainability – A new tool is being piloted by IIED and partners to bring a more rounded approach to assessing sustainability in relation to the use of wild species. Sustainable use is a core pillar of the global biodiversity framework. But how to determine if wildlife use is really sustainable? We have developed a “5D” framework which seeks to make a complex issue accessible to practitioners. You can find out more here.
.
You Switch – Uswitch Energy has published the results of its annual study designed to see which universities are leading the way in terms of green initiatives and renewable energy. The full results can be found here.