WEEC2024 Day 1丨Discussion on ESD and EE

前言

第十二届世界环境教育大会于2024年1月29日至2月2日在阿布扎比召开，主题是“连接人们，创造明天”（“Connecting People, Creating Tomorrow.”），世界环境教育大会（WEEC）是一个致力于环境和可持续发展教育的国际大会。大会旨在探讨如何通过环境教育应对气候变化、污染、生物多样性丧失等全球环境挑战，以及如何鼓励跨国界、跨文化和跨世代的协作。会议不仅限于传统的学术和实践交流，也鼓励采取创新形式，如艺术表演和互动活动，以丰富教育内容和参与体验。

绿色光年青年代表团已于1月28日抵达阿布扎比参会，本篇文章是绿光青年代表团成员高致同参加大会开幕式的心得体会：

About the Author

PHOTO: Gao Zhitong

Gao Zhitong is currently a student at Shanghai Concordia International School. He first connected with Green Light-Year during the 2018 "Take Xuesen Road Again" Northwest Environmental Protection Science and Technology  Research  Camp, where he stood out as the best debater and reporter (Link: 重走学森路18 | D1 高铁上“找茬儿”调研的营员们). He also participated in a meeting with the curator of the Qian Xuesen Museum (Link: “重走学森路”分享会丨一起康康孩子们参营后的变化！). In 2020, he joined the TrashTrack project team, collaborating with five other high school students. They used GPS trackers to investigate the final destinations of sorted waste in different communities in Shanghai (Link: TrashTrack小队科普丨MoniTour: 追踪电子废弃物的全球路线). Their findings were featured in a full-page article in the Jiefang Daily (Link: 新闻报道丨解放日报：追踪垃圾分类，追问更多可能性). He also encouraged his sister, who attends the University of Sydney, to write a popular science article for Green Light-Year about how American environmental organizations track the final destinations of electronic waste.

He is actively involved in social practice activities organized by his school and community, earning praise and trust from teachers in both contexts. He has served as a department head in the student council and has achieved notable successes in numerous activities.

Discussion on ESD and EE

On the first day of the WEEC conference, the main topics of discussion among experts and professors were Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Environmental Education (EE). After a full day of presentations, I gained profound insights into both forms of education.

PHOTO: Children who made pledges for climate action in Abu Dhabi

Part One: The Difference Between Education for Sustainable Development and Environmental Education.

Historically, the term Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been in use for several decades, with the initial definition and concept of Environmental Education (EE) emerging from the International Working Meeting on Environmental Education held in the USA in 1970{1}. This initial definition added elements of decision-making and behaviour formation to the foundation of ESD. A few years later, the term EE was recognized at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. However, its definition still remained within the framework of ESD, delving deeper into areas like environmental governance and decision-making. Thus, ESD appears to have a broader and more general scope, while EE is more targeted and in-depth.

PHOTO: Welcome address by the Secretary-General of the World Environmental Education Congress Network

Part Two: Should We Promote More Education for Sustainable Development or Environmental Education, and Why?

Throughout the day's conference, I learned that ESD covers a wider and more superficial field, making it more accessible, whereas EE is more specific and profound, demanding a higher educational threshold. Therefore, I believe schools should promote the widespread adoption of ESD to ensure everyone from children to the elderly recognizes its importance. EE, on the other hand, could be taught to elite groups or those with a keen interest in the subject. This approach would also conserve substantial educational resources.

Part Three: How to Implement This Education?

In this morning's plenary session, American education expert Ginger Potter suggested a useful approach for the United States: Given that the U.S. comprises 50 states, each determining its own educational approach, there might currently be 50 states doing 50 different things. Perhaps only half of the states require schools to teach ESD, which could result in a failure to ensure all American students understand the environment and sustainable development and recognize their personal responsibility. The last time this issue was identified and raised in a conference was in 1980, and it has since been neglected and underfunded. She urged the U.S. government and citizens to pay attention to this issue and invest in it.

PHOTO: Plenary session at the opening ceremony

Inspired by her example, I believe we should make learning ESD a mandatory personal responsibility for every citizen. I call on the government for support and investment so that children can learn about sustainable development from an early age. Many overlook this form of education today, but it truly teaches children how to coexist with nature and consider future generations. It's not just about environmental protection; it also cultivates their moral compass, which is undoubtedly beneficial for the growth and education of the children.

Reference citation:

{1}：https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6331178/

How freshmen perceive Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) , Michaela Maurer  Franz Xaver Bogner

Written by Gao Zhitong (Shanghai Concordia International School)

Image by Gao Zhitong, Gong Wenzhu

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