SDG Playbook – In partnership with law firm Irwin Mitchell, the UN Global Compact Network [UK] has developed an SDG Playbook for SMEs, a guide for smaller companies to unlock the competitive advantages of embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can download the report here.
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Listening to Rob Hopkins – If you missed last week’s NAEE AGM you can still listen to what Rob Hopkins said in his presentation on why activists campaigning for a future in which people and the natural world can thrive, need to become much better at speaking to people’s imaginations, and at the cultivation of longing. Rob is a Director of Totnes Community Development Society and host of the ‘From What If to What Next’ podcast. He’s author of several books including The Transition Handbook and most recently, From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want. The recording is here and the passcode is V7e@6@AL
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Activism in Schools – The Ministry of Eco Education is hosting an online panel discussion exploring Activism in Schools. It’s on Monday December 4th at 1830. The event is to enable young people, academics and educators to discuss the role of activism in education. It will explore these questions: What do we mean by activism? What examples have you seen of activism working well in schools? Where, for you, is the line? How can we encourage and facilitate more activism in schools? Participants include: Rowan Ryrie – Parents for Future UK; Paul Atkin – NEU Climate Network; Morgan Phillips – Global Action Plan and Alison Body – University of Kent. You can sign up here.
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Net Zero – In the USA, NAAEE is holding a panel discussion on What’s the buzz about net zero? on December 14th [1700 to 1900 GMT]. The organisers say: “As the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly clear, the concept of net zero has swiftly emerged as a focal point in both scientific and political conversations. But what exactly does net zero mean? What are its challenges and opportunities? And how can net zero be effectively taught?” Registration details here.
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Governance and Sustainability – Learning Link’s newest module, Environmental sustainability: the governance role, is now live and ready to complete. As an introductory module, you will gain a broad overview of environmental sustainability, why it matters for schools and trusts, and how you can begin to take action. Designed to be completed in 20 to 30 minutes, this module will outline the Greener Governance campaign (including the 6 Cs), the Department for Education’s climate change and sustainability strategy, and case studies. The module is available to all Learning Link members and can be found under the Good Governance category on the platform. If you aren’t already subscribed, you can find out more here.
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School History – On November 30th at 1600, the Historical Association is hosting a webinar on how school history can help secondary students to understand and respond to the planetary crisis. The event will explore ways to introduce themes into the history classroom that relate to the planetary crisis and the pressing need to live more sustainably. How might we integrate a focus on our relationship with the natural world through time in our existing curriculum? Why should we teach about key turning points in human history that have shaped this relationship in profound ways? What is history’s role in explaining how we got to this point? In answering these questions, we will consider how to help young people connect the past, present and future and how to use teaching approaches which make the learning engaging, manageable and hopeful. Details here, but you have to be an HA member to join in.
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Falling Leaves – The latest edition of Canada’s Green Teacher magazine has been published. You’ll find the details on our blog.
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COP28 – The aim of COP26 was to “keep 1.5 alive”; that is, to stop the Earth getting more than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures. Two years on, ahead of COP28, UNEP has commented on how the plan is coming along in its 2023 Emissions Gap report. The headline was that, currently, the pledges currently made by countries imply that, by the end of the century the globe will have warmed by between 2.5 C and 2.9 C. At Paris, however, in 2015 the prospect was for more than 3 degrees. And the rate of increase in greenhouse gas emissions seems to be slowing. The report has the data.
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Anti Malarials– Future Crunch says that Rwanda is on track to become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate malaria. In 2016, the country saw 17,941 cases of severe malaria, but in 2022-23, that number had fallen to 1,316, a decline of 85%, and only 51 deaths have been recorded this year. More detail on All Africa.
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Species at Risk – The number of species at risk of extinction has doubled to two million, according to the UN, with more precise data on insects contributing to the increase. Writing in The Guardian, Phoebe Weston analyses how the extinction of insects would transform our planet, with implications for water, soil, pests, and the global food system.
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Meadow Spittlebugs – Alan Stewart, University of Sussex, Claire Harkin, University of Sussex, and Vinton Thompson, American Museum of Natural History, write in The Conversation about how the meadow spittlebug can transmit a deadly bacterium with many plants in Britain potentially being at risk.
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Spawn Survey – The Freshwater Habitats Trust 2024 public Spawn Survey will be starting again in December. The Trust is asking everyone across the UK, no matter whether they have a pond of their own or a chance encounter, to take part in the survey by recording spawn whilst out and about in their local area. The 2023 PondNet Spawn Survey was the most successful yet, with 1,410 records from across Britain- the highest number gathered since launching the survey in 2012. This year they are hoping to reach even more people to help monitor trends and keep track of early sightings. Visit their website to find out more.
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Straightened Times – Thailand has banned the import of iguanas following an increase in animals imported as pets being released. They have a liking for cassava vegetation which is threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the diets of people. These iguanas should not be confused with the Chinese water dragon which is a small indigenous lizard that’s a vulnerable species. The always interesting Straits Times has the details.