Sustainability Education Resources
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation by providing resources, professional development, and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability from governance and operations to education and research.
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
“In 1953,
farsighted tribal leaders in the Northwest formed the Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians, and dedicated it to tribal sovereignty and
self-determination. Today, ATNI is a nonprofit organization representing 57
Northwest tribal governments from
Parents, educators, and health professionals work with local communities to improve meals and increase awareness of the connection between food, health, and students’ ability to learn. Includes direction on how to become involved, information, and useful resource links.
Streaming free video clips from hundreds of leading thinkers and experts in critical issues of our time, including sustainability, social and environmental justice, politics, and more.
Campaign for Environmental Literacy
This website focuses on educating the public on key issues in conservation, environment and sustainability education and mobilizing people to advocate and organize for increased funding in these areas. The site has links to key legislative bills and movements and how to contact local representatives to be sure they support these critical issues.
Center for Learning and Development
The CLD believes that “all children are entitled to a high quality education regardless of how they look, where they come from or how they learn; all children can and will learn and achieve when provided with highly effective teachers and positive learning environments; successful schools continuously invest in building the capacity of their teachers and leaders, and the ‘bottom line’ for professional learning is that it results in increased student achievement. Of particular interest is an article on Change Leadership.
Provides trainings, workshops, and assessment tools to those people working in land restoration, community building, food justice and security, social and environmental justice, and many more. Their programs feature “several core skills, including dialogue, contemplative practice, collaborative approaches, and creativity, and highlight the value of healthy, sustainable food systems.”
“We believe that schools play a pivotal role in moving us beyond our growing environmental crises and toward a sustainable society. We recognize schooling for sustainability as a process that fosters abundant living on a finite planet and makes teaching and learning come alive.” The site features innumerable resources for teachers, education professionals and those working in public offices. The Center for Ecoliteracy also has services for the support of sustainability education integration in K-12 settings, as well as a list of useful publications, some of which are available to download.
The Center of Environmental Education
Provides
resources, curricula, expertise, and guidance to address climate change issues
and cultivate environmental leadership in K–12 schools. Sections include “Blueprint for a
The Center for Ethical Leadership
Based in
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice
The CHEJ “was created out of a commitment and passion to work with communities at risk, to empower local families to take steps to protect their neighborhoods and families from unnecessary chemical threats.” The CHEJ uses skill training, strategic analysis and scientific research to attain their mission. The Green Flag Schools Program for Environmental Leadership provides a step-by step outline for schools to engage in environmental stewardship.
The Center for Place-Based Education
From
Change.org is an online hub and media network for social issues and collective action.
We monitor the evolving thinking and skills of the most important champions of sustainability, and transform them into educational materials and a pedagogical system that inspires young people to think about the world, their relationships to it, and their ability to influence it in an entirely new way.
Coalition for a Livable Future
The
Coalition for a Livable Future unites over 100 diverse organizations and
hundreds of individuals to promote healthy and sustainable communities. By
connecting issues, people and organizations, CLF empowers communities to take
action together to shape the big decisions affecting the
The CRITCF’s mission is to “ensure a unified voice in the overall management of the fishery resources, and as managers, to protect reserved treaty rights through the exercise of the inherent sovereign powers of the tribes."
Life and community in the upper
"Connects farmers, educators, youth, and community members to build a sustainable future through place-based educational and service programs. By collectively growing food for our schools, kitchens and food shelves, we celebrate the soil and soul of community. Our stewardship provides food security, affirms our local environment, and nurtures our common roots.”
The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) provides and opportunity to progress towards implementing universal quality education that fosters the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and values that lead to a more sustainable future. UNESCO had identified 10 key aspects of quality education, five at the level of the learner and five at the level of the school system. Quality education calls for using a life-skills approach. Learning a variety of skills will prepare individuals for a more successful life at home, in their communities, and in the workforce.
The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. Read the full text of the Earth Charter here. Of particular interest is their education page.
EPS seeks to “address a growing nature deficit disorder in children, enhance learning across the curriculum, strengthen school, family and community relationships, and provides the tools for restoring the land and enhancing our relationship to it.”
Tagged as “the original restoration publication,” Ecological Restoration serves as a forum for people interested in all areas of ecological restoration, featuring the technical and biological aspects of restoring landscapes, as well as emerging professional issues, the role of education, evolving theories of post-modern humans and their environment, land-use policy, the science of collaboration, and more. Published quarterly.
Ecotrust aims to “innovate, invest and inspire… fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being.” They support, facilitate and inform individuals and groups on a host of issues pertaining to sustainability, environment and communities.
A local food magazine dedicated to promoting local buying, eating, and enjoying of local foods. Highlights the issues facing and successes of our local food economy.
Economics for Equity and Environment
The E3 Network develops and applies economic arguments for active protection of human health and the natural environment. E3 Network is a national network of economists developing new arguments for the active protection of human health and the environment.
Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit
The ESD Toolkit is an easy-to-use manual for beginning the process of combining education and sustainability. The Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit will help schools and communities develop a process for creating locally relevant and culturally appropriate education.
The Environmental Literacy Council
The ELC brings together scientists, educators, economists and other experts on the field of environmental education. The website offers background information and resources on environmental topics, curricular materials, and textbook reviews.
The Farm-Based Education Association
The mission of the Farm-Based Education Association is to “inspire, nurture, and promote farm-based education.” The site has resources on pedagogy, curriculum, other materials posted my farm based educators.
Based in
Promotes better nutrition and food literacy through education, promoting good food policy, and advocating for access to healthy foods for all.
Fourth World Conference on Women
The
Division for the Advancement of Women in the United Nations hosted the Fourth
Conference on Women in
In December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution 57/254 to put in place a United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), spanning from 2005 to 2014. UNESCO was requested to lead the Decade and develop a draft International Implementation Scheme (IIS) for the Decade. This document fulfils the request for an IIS and is the result of extensive consultations with the United Nation agencies, national governments, civil society organizations, and NGO's experts and specialists.
Girls’ and Women’s Education Initiative
“Using education as a primary strategy, the Girls' & Women's Education Initiative aims to harness the potential of girls and women to learn, lead and act on their vision of change for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
This program aims to cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility and stewardship on school campuses around the world. They offer toolkits for those interested in greening their child’s school.
Good Practices in Teacher Education
This publication by UNESCO is a collection of eight case studies from teacher education institutions around the world. The eight describe: curriculum revision, research, international and national in service teacher education, creating a new academic department, networking internationally, building a sustainable campus, and starting an academic journal.
With a mission of helping to form a “just, sustainable and secure future for all,” Green Cross works in conflict prevention in energy and water issues, environmental education, values change, alleviating the consequences of war. Green Cross was also a key member of the committee that formulated the Earth Charter, and works towards attaining the values set forth within Earth Charter.
Guidelines and Recommendations for Reorienting Teachers Education to Address Sustainability
These guidelines and recommendations were written by an International Network of 30 teacher-education institutions from around the world and published by UNESCO. There are 67 recommendations for levels from the national ministerial level to the local level. The recommendations are illustrated with short descriptions of activities related to reorienting programs, practices, and policies to address sustainability.
English version
Spanish version
French version
Arabic version
Russian version
Indigenous Environmental Network
EN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). IEN's activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
Dedicated to the interdisciplinary teaching of Indigenous and Traditional knowledge by utilizing mainstream and tribal knowledge, this site explores the revitalization of indigenous cultures through education.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
IISD champions innovation which enables societies to live sustainably and create better living conditions for all.
Izaak
Walton League of
The Izaak
Walton League is one of the oldest conservation groups in
The Journal of Sustainability Education
The Journal of Sustainability Education (JSE) serves as a forum for academics and practitioners to share, critique, and promote research, practices, and initiatives that foster the integration of economic, ecological, and social-cultural dimensions of sustainability within formal and non-formal educational contexts.
National Gardening Association program that provides resources, materials, and teaching tips for connecting youth with gardens. The site also has grants for those interested in funding a kid's gardening projects.
Highlights themes and provides excerpts from Petra Kuenkel’s book, Mind and Heart -Mapping Your Personal Journey Towards Leadership for Sustainability (2008).
Full html text of the United Nations’ Millennium Declaration of 2000. Also of interest: progress towards the International Development Goals from the declaration in English: http://www.paris21.org/betterworld/home.htm
The Northwest Earth Institute is recognized as a national leader in developing innovative programs that emphasize individual responsibility, the importance of a supportive community, and the dual need to walk lightly on and to take action for the earth. By reaching out to people in their workplace, home, faith center, neighborhood, and community, NWEI provides easy access to tools for individual and cultural change.
An online project of Ecotrust, P & P features a blog and a journal that examine the “ideas that connect us.”
Post Carbon Institute is leading the transition to a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable world providing individuals, communities, businesses, and governments with the resources needed to understand and respond to the interrelated economic, energy, and environmental crises that define the 21st century. Site includes a media blog, speakers, fellows and a resource page.
The Role of Education in Creating a More Sustainable Future
This
hour-long talk by Charles "Chuck" Hopkins, UNESCO Chair, streams off
the World Wide Web. This talk encompasses many issues of education and
sustainability.
“Within the beautifully illustrated pages of Resurgence is an eclectic mix of articles on ecology, alternative education, spirituality, sustainable development and the arts, as well as regular poetry, gardening and recipe columns, humor, reviews and more. Some issues are given over to a particular theme such as food, Nature, transport or a particular country or individual.”
The mission of Second Nature is to support the integration of sustainability education into all aspects of higher education, both learning and practice. They support university leaders and senior undergraduates in achieving this goal.
Seven Generations Education Institute
The Seven Generations Education Institute is dedicated to excellence in lifelong learning and empowerment through Anishinaabemowin, by providing community-based and student-centered learning opportunities for Anishinaabeg.
Stratleade Sustainability Education
Concerned with the development of leaders for the sustainability movement, this site aims to “to support and promote global public education on Strategic Sustainable Development.” A blog roll of researchers and professionals in the field of sustainable development is included, as well as a reading list and links to other resources and organizations.
Sustainability Education Handbook
A
handbook designed to integrate
Sustainability Education Guide
This website features an introductory, comprehensive sustainability education guide for educators in K-12 settings, including topics such as “Historical Context of Sustainability Education,” “Community Dialogue and Leadership,” and “Developing Empowered Citizens.” The entire guide is available in PDF form.
Sustainability Leadership Institute
The Sustainability Leadership Institute hopes to be a conduit for sharing real-life stories, learning and action research findings. Their goal is to provide real-time resources that are useful to sustainability leaders.
The Transition Movement is a vibrant, grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. It represents one of the most promising ways of engaging people in strengthening their communities against the effects of these challenges, resulting in a life that is more abundant, fulfilling, equitable and socially connected.
The US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
The
vision of the US Partnership is to fully integrate Sustainable development into
education and learning in the
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
ULSF supports sustainability as a critical focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach in higher education through publications, research, and assessment. Includes assessment resources, a publications page, and links to sustainability degree programs.
What is Education for Sustainable Development?
This PowerPoint presentation contains 43 slides that describe education for sustainable development (ESD) and the benefits of education to society. ESD has four major thrusts: (1) improving access and retention in quality basic education, (2) reorienting teacher education to address sustainability, (3) improving public understanding and awareness, and (4) providing training to all sectors of the economy. ESD involves lifelong learning and engages formal, nonformal, and informal sectors of the education community.
This award winning Web site helps 4th - 8th grade students and teachers to begin to interact with their school as an ecosystem and design their learning and surroundings accordingly. Eco the WISE owl, acts as a guide to the Web site guiding students to assess, calculate, design, plan and implement 32 sustainability projects in five dimensions of their school: plant and garden, energy, native habitat, pollution prevention, and built systems.
World
Education is well known for its work around the globe in environmental
education, community development, maternal and child health, school governance,
integrated literacy, small enterprise development, HIV and AIDS education and
prevention and care, and refugee training. World Education also works to
strengthen literacy and adult basic education programs in the
Working with businesses, academia, and social programs, WRI works to alleviate today’s most pressing resource problems. Active projects include work on climate change, ecological restoration, government responsibility and accountability and sustainable economies.
Yes! is concerned with peace options and economic alternatives and explores justice, sustainability and compassion.
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