Contribution Nr. 2

A friend gave me some links on the education for sustainability! Thank's a lot!!!

http://www.econation.co.nz/
http://www.econation.co.nz/basic-sustainability-tips.html

http://www.greenkiwi.org.nz/
http://www.greenkiwi.org.nz/efs.html

This citation is from one of the pages:

"We need to teach our children and students the fundamental facts of life – that one species' waste is another species' food; that matter cycles continually through the web of life; that the energy driving the ecological cycles flows from the sun; that diversity assures resilience; and that life, from its beginning more than three billion years ago, did not take over the planet by combat but by networking."

– Fritjof Capra

Comment: education is not only done in classrooms or during university lectures - you can contribute to show others what you think is important whenever, wherever and the way you think is most suitable!!!

Thank you for your contributions (Nr.1)

There have been a few contributions sent to me. it is really cool that actually some people seem to give thoughts to what is presented here...

Contribution one - HABITATS:

Habitats are the natural living space of every species (fauna/flora). Due to human influence these spaces are getting more and more scarce for the living beings (causes can be: urbanisation, farmland, introduced species that create competition for the native species...).

It is therefore important to find out what can be done to protect habitats that still exist and how to re-establish habitats that will provide space for vulnerable native species (this can be done eg. by modern "landscape design" to change structures in cities to raise the amount of different plant- and animal species together with providing a better living area for us humans)

UN-Habitat therefore annually celebrates "World Habitat Day" to "reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all, to adequate shelter".

Check out: http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=669

Course on sustainability

How could sustainability be educated at undergraduate level at a university?

Here is a suggestion... --> Parts of it can maybe also help you for your personal relationship to sustainable development!

_____________________________________________________________

General Information on the course:

· Beginning of each lecture: short presentation (5 min. + 5 min. discussion) on a sustainability issue (depending on the topic)

· General structure: from broad to narrow, from known to unknown

· Homeworks (what was dealt in class the week before? hand in every week a page on the topic eg. 10 times 3 %)… eg:

o Assignment 1: what is sustainability for you / understanding of the topic

o Assignment 2: Critique on sustainability…

o Assingment 10: Field Trip report

Lectures

1. Introduction

a. 10 min. of lecture – examples of sustainability

b. Why is sustainability important

c. What do you think

d. brief discussions on sustainability

2. Brundtland report + definition of sustainability

a. 3 pillars of sustainability +

b. Discussion of interdisciplinarity

c. Integration of all pillars (evenly/fit to situation)

d. How is sustainability recognized around the world (contracts)

3. Field Trip

a. Eg. Taking part in a tree planting day, local cleaning up project…

4. Critique on sustainability

a. Rehearsal of Field trip

b. What are problems of facing sustainability

c. Are there different points of view (cultures, social classes, religion)

d. eg what is: “Greenwashing”

5. Economic pillar

a. Money

b. Markets

c. Neo-classical theory

d. Role of business vs. finite resources

e. Ethics in economy

f. Environmental Management systems (eg. Natural step)

6. Social/cultural pillar

a. Modern values compared to former values

b. Consumerism

c. How did our problems come about

d. values

7. Environmental pillar

a. Ecological footprint

b. Global environmental issues

c. Changing personal habits

8. Guest lecturer

a. Be prepared for the lecture (questions/critical thinking…)

b. eg. principal advisor for sustainability at city council (eg. Tony Moore)

9. Education for sustainability

a. How can we inform others

b. Actions for sustainability

10. Field Trip

a. Local business

b. Or international NGO

11. Presentations on sustainability and how to put into practice

a. Other examples similar to field trip

12. Concluding class

a. Rehearsal

b. What have we learn

(Thank you: Shaun, Lena, Kana, Elisabeth, Luke, Lea)

Water Footprint and Virtual Water - What is this?

Ever heard of virtual water? It is the water that is needed to produce consumer goods. It means all the irigation, cleaning etc. that goes into the product...

Here are a few examples:
2700 litres for 1 cotton shirt
75 litres of water for one glass of beer
5000 litres of water for 1 kg of cheese
1500 litres of water for 1 kg of cane sugar
(Source: The Water Footprint Network (2011): http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/productgallery&product= [20.09.2011]

In some countries there might be enough water for the production of these goods, but what if production moves to a dry region (because it is cheaper), where people don't even have enough water to supply themselves? Just buy the new fancy T-shirt anyways?

Learn more about the so called "Water Footprint":

e.g. on The Water Footprint Network: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/home

the pillars of sustainability

In order to achieve sustainability there are four so called "pillars" that should equally be taken seriously... It is believed that only by being sustainable in all the four of them are we be able to guarantee our fellows but also our successors a life they deserve!

Here's the four pillars:
(Source: Sustainable Kingston (s.a.): Community Sustainability; in: http://www.sustainablekingston.ca/community-plan/four-pillars-of-sustainability [16.09.2011]

















What do you think... ?

Example: Implementation of Sustainability in Austria

Sustainability in Austria

Sustainability in Austria as it is managed at the moment by the Austrian “ministry of agriculture, forestry, environment, water management and food” can be seen as a part of the European Union’s Sustainable Development Strategy that was first presented in 1999 in Gothenburg. According to the paper concerning 14 paragraphs of sustainable development each member of the European Union should implement its national sustainability strategy and report to the European Council. (Lebensministerium, 2009)

The following gives a short overview on the main-achievements and implementations of the Austrian Nation in terms of sustainability as they were reported to the Council (Lebensministerium, 2007):

· Climate change and clean energy:

o Foster reduction of energy use in households including passive houses, increasing energy efficiency, re-set feeding-in tariffs for privately produced solar energy…

o Clean Energy in Industry and transport by raising amount of biofuels, fostering decrease of usage of personal transport and increase of public transports, optimization of use of water power, raise of mineral oil tax etc.

o Creating labels such as klima:aktiv to enhance the knowledge and experience in sustainability matters of the people

· Sustainable transport:

o Private vehicles: diesel particle filters for new cars raised to 77% (via standardized consumption tax), alternative engine cars to be raised to 5 %

o Public transport: raise importance of train system by improving logistics “easy travelling”

o Induce model projects and sustainable management consulting such as: Alpine Awareness, eco-friendly destination Werfenweng, klima:aktiv mobile guidance programmes, Fuel saving workshops…

o Other aspects of sustainability: reduction of noise pollution, safety in traffic

· Sustainable consumption and production

o Awarding products (worth € 250 mio. Turnover) with Austrian ECO-Label to create Sustainability USP and raise awareness for sustainable products

o Invest in sustainable tourism and education (eg. Consumer Education) concept

o Support Austrians Organic Farmers who comprise of 15 % of the Farmland

o Think Global – Act Local

· Conservation and management of natural resources

o Creating an Action Plan for Increasing the Efficiency of Resources

o Implementing sustainable forest management via the Austrian Forest Act including planning, recording and integrated induction (Biodiversity, Water…)

o Running a Biodiversity Commission, Managing Natura 2000 areas…

o Improving Water Framework Directive by managing water bodies and water basins, setting standards

o Sustainable Waste Management: Waste commissioners in medium/big sized companies, Reduction/Reuse/Recycle

o Programme for genetic resources, Agro-environmental programme, Green Pact (Development of rural areas)

· Public health

o In terms of promoting healthy food consumption, prevention measures, compliance with EU chemicals policy

· Social inclusion

o Equal rights on labour markets for female and male, young and old

o Labour training initiatives by AMS (Labour market service)

o “Reduction of poverty and social exclusion, with regard to child poverty”

o Sustainable provision of social services to people

· Global challenges

o Raising Austria’s ESD-share for official development assistance to poorer countries to 0,6%

o Internationally promote clean energy and reduce use of nuclear power plant power

o Reduce use of toxic chemicals, standardize chemical products in products

These implementations and goals show that Austria has tried ambitiously to take further steps towards sustainability within all the 3 pillars of sustainable development. Yet, one problem seems to be the discrepancy between setting ambitious goals and do enough to reach them – not reaching the Kyoto goal for CO2-emission reduction of 13 % from the basis year 1990 by 2010 is one major example. (Wirtschaftsblatt, 2007)

What is more, as far as my knowledge can approve, a lot of Austria’s measures for sustainability bring along negative aspects within other areas. For instance have promoting and subsidizing Biofuel and Bioenergy such as pellets and use of farmland caused tremendous difficulties for traditional users such as the internationally very successful Austrian wood plate-industry. As a reaction of the subsidies for bioenergy second class wood prices have been indirectly artificially raised and the wood plate producers face themselves competing for raw materials against new users of second class wood for burning and producing energy.

Still as a final statement I would like to point out that the government has eagerly tried to communicate the importance of acting in a sustainable way to the people via the Media – something which is in my opinion the most powerful measure to achieve goals in that field and something that should be taken even more serious. Austria will only be able to substantially contribute to a more sustainable world if every single Austrian sees facing and fighting our environmental-, social- and economic problems as one of his major roles in society.

Used Sources:

Lebensministerium (2009): EU-Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie – Start in Göteborg; in: http://www.nachhaltigkeit.at/article/articleview/72520/1/26470/ [14.07.2011]

Lebensministerium (2007): Umsetzungsbericht zur EU-SDS; Implementation report oft he EU – Sustainable Development Strategy; in: http://www.nachhaltigkeit.at/filemanager/download/39475/ [14.07.2011]

Wirtschaftsblatt – „Austrian Newspaper for Economic Issues” (2009): Peinlich: Nur Österreich schafft das Kyoto-Ziel nicht; in: http://www.wirtschaftsblatt.at/home/schwerpunkt/dossiers/klimaschutz/peinlich-nur-oesterreich-schafft-das-kyoto-ziel-nicht-397435/index.do [17.07.2011]

Back in the days Sustainability / Sustainable Development was quoted as follows:

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within two key concepts:

• the concepts of ‘needs’, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and

• The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organizations on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”

(find out more on: World Commission on Environment and Development (1987); Our Common Future; Oxford University Press: Oxford)


Is it still current? Would you like to add something? How can we reach this Sustainable Development?