European Commission recommends sustainability, climate change and environment to be the core of all education
The European Commission has published a proposal for the recommendation of European Council to support Member States, schools, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations and all education providers in equipping learners with understanding and skills on sustainability, climate change and the environment.
Published by the Joint Research Center, the new European competence framework on sustainability maps out the competences needed for the green transition, including critical thinking, initiative-taking, respecting nature and understanding the impact everyday actions and decisions have on the environment and the global climate.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President for the Promoting European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said, “Youth participation has been revolutionising the way we look at climate and the environment. Through our youth programmes, European Solidarity Corps and DiscoverEU, we promote the sustainability drive involving our youth. This is a step further in the work towards a better integration of sustainability in education.”
The Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth – Mariya Gabriel said, “There is tremendous work being done right across Europe to help children, young people and adults learn about and engage with climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability. Our goal is to build on these efforts and to work closely with Member States to place sustainability at the heart of education and training systems. All learners, from an early age need opportunities to understand and take action for environmental sustainability, to protect our planet and our future.”
Taking it to twitter, she tweeted,
🆕Today we put forward a proposal for @EUCouncil Recommendation to place environmental sustainability at the heart of #education & training!📘👩💻
— Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) January 14, 2022
All learners should be given the means to understand & take action for our 🌍! #EUGreenDeal
🔗https://t.co/a9Fczs0ci2 pic.twitter.com/POQcVUBTBh
The proposal calls on Member States to encourage and support whole-institution approaches to sustainability which encompass teaching and learning, developing visions, planning and governance, active involvement of students and staff, management of buildings and resources and partnerships with local and wider communities. It also wants Member States to mobilise national and European Union (E.U.) funds for investment in sustainable and green infrastructure, training, tools and resources to increase resilience and preparedness of education and training for the green transition.
For preparing the proposal, the European Commission conducted a public survey, which ran from June to September 2021. It received over 1,300 responses and 95 position papers. In the public survey, 71% of respondents, ranked education and training as the most important sector, ahead of public bodies and Governments (56%), and media (34%). The main points that came to light were providing teachers, trainers, youth leaders and academic staff with quality professional development opportunities on the environment and sustainability.
The European Commission also sought inputs during a series of online consultation workshops with policy makers, teachers, youth organisations, social partners, researchers and other interested bodies and organisations.
Going ahead, the proposal will be discussed by Member States and then adopted by E.U. Education Ministers. The Commission will support the implementation of the Recommendation through learning and exchanges between Member States, stakeholders and partner countries.
