The education and the sustainable development
The changes in society, economy and the environment posed new challenges before educators. Emerging consumer society, globalizations, loss of biodiversity, and climate change, have shifted the scope of debates and have created new needs for education. The repercussions this had on the educational system necessitated the delivery of a purposeful and systematic approach towards the development of environmental education and education for sustainable development.
"Only after the last tree has been cut down - only after the last river has been poisoned - only after the last fish has been caught - only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Words of the Chief Seattle in 1855
We have no other home but the Earth, and therefore we have to learn to care for it with due respect and thought for the future generations!
On this page you can share your opinion, good educational practices, or simply “steal” an idea about how to carry out your next lesson outdoors in the nature.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – education for personal and social development, which includes ecological, social (social-political and social-cultural) and economic dimensions of development. It incorporates the environmental, ecological, health, civic, etc. education in a common one. This is education about relationships in our “common home where we all live”. Sustainable development education puts an emphasis on life itself in relationship between nature and culture.
Environmental Education (EE) – an education intended to form an ecological culture, ecological mentality and ecological behavior in their mutual relationship and unity, in order to preserve the ecological balance. This is an education for establishing ecological skills, which are the foundation for ecologically sound SD. It puts emphasis on ecological laws for ecological balance and healthy way of life, and responsibility of people and society for abiding them.
Nature Conservation Education (NCE) – an education for protecting the environment, which includes a system of educational activities for protecting, improving, managing and rational use of natural resources, living in harmony with nature and concern about the future generations. This education includes acquiring knowledge and understanding, developing skills, attitude, responsibilities and behavior focused on protecting the environment. The emphasis is on preserving the environment.
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 -In December 2002, resolution 57/254 on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO was designated as lead agency for the promotion of the Decade.
