15 May 2013

The 2020 Vision Project is supported by the ACT Government Community Centenary Initiatives Fund

Teaching Sustainabilityand the

2020 VisionSustainability Project

Teachers’ Workshop

Our aim: You leave with ideas/lessons you can use immediately in the classroom

Program:Outline 2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Present broad sustainability issues as context

Present practical classroom ideas

Assist you to develop/refine your own sequence of lessons or unit of work on sustainability

Introduction

2020 Vision Competition 23 Aug 2013

Exhibition of the best competition entries at the Festival of Young Ideas Nov 2013

Parliament of Youth on Sustainability Nov 2013

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Core ActivityStudy one sustainability topic in the context of:

How will Canberra reach theACT Government’s 2020greenhouse gas emissionreduction target?

How will Canberra become more sustainable?

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

AimsEngage the imagination of ACT school children in a deep consideration of the sustainability issues we face

Provide students with a goal

Provide a chance to showcase the work of your students, your school and you!

Generate discussion in the broader community

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

A broader perspective on sustainability and climate

change•A perfect storm of ‘wicked problems’ is brewing•Each one is serious, together they threaten survivalof our species

– Human numbers quadrupled in the past century– Consumption driven growth economy– Demand for land and water increasing while

supply decreasing– Energy generation driving greenhouse gases– Political and governance systems cannot cope

So where is the hope in that?

• We are hurtling at breakneck speed down‘Anthropo-centric Highway’ towards a brick wall of impossibility

• Fork in the road – Track to ‘Eco-centric survival’• Most don’t see the track and we don’t know

whereit will lead us

• U-turn or catastrophe at the brick wall• We have already moved beyond the safe limits

of physics, biology and chemistry and our planet is decompensating

• Our best hope lies on the Eco-centric survival track

Global change – Crossing the safe boundaries of

sustainability•Climate change (boundary already crossed)•Ocean acidification•Atmospheric ozone depletion•Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles (boundary already crossed)•Global freshwater use•Land use change•Loss of biodiversity (boundary already crossed)•Atmospheric particulates•Chemical pollution

Shifting from an anthropo-centric to an eco-centric

mindset•Three things stand in way of positive outcome: economy, governance and our mindset•Harder for those over 25•We are conditioned to believe that humans arein control and that the earth is infinitely exploitable•Reinforced by our jobs, TV and the economy•Kids come fresh and without our baggage•Our task is to give them the tools of eco-centrism

What is eco-centrism?

• Recognition of our utter dependence on healthy ecosystems

• Making their nurture central to our culture• Designing a steady state economy• A governance system that respects

communities, environment and operates on democratic principles

• Caring, sharing and nurture > competition, winning, dominating and controlling

• Transformation when enough take the new track

The ecological footprint

•Per capita use of biologically active land andwater in global hectares•Can calculate from the ACF atlas for families, individuals, suburbs•The vital role of CO2•Derived from an analysis of household expenditure•Our life choices in food, drink, travel, leisureactivity, clothing and buildings, all have ecological implications•Modules in the SEE-Change curriculum materials

Footprints vary in size

•Enough land and water to support sustainably 7 billion people with 1.8 hectares per person. We are using 2.7•9.2 global hectares: size of the average ACT resident’s ecological footprint in 2008-09. The footprint has increased 25% in 10 years•13% above the Australian average and nearly 3.4 times the global average.•People in developing countries have footprints ranging from 0.8 to 1.8 hectares.•Biologically active land has been declining, while humanity’s footprint has increased.

Five discussion modules

• Intended for senior students, teachers, parents

– Hope and action in a difficult decade– The environmental challenge– Population, the economy and inequality– A new road to a good future– A 2020 Vision of caring and hope

Why am I hopeful?

•Humans slow but not dumb•We still don’t ‘get’ eco-centrism, but we will•Massive stirring of young people networks acrossthe world•When the episteme shiftsour entire economy andmode of thinking will change•Back to a new deep respectand utter dependency onland and nature

Open to students from Kindergarten to Year 12

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Core ActivityStudy one of the 19 2020 Vision sustainability topics in the context of the broad question:How will Canberra reach the ACT Government’s 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction target?How will Canberra become more sustainable?

Develop proposals for local action

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

2020 Vision Competition 23 Aug 2013

Exhibition of the best competition entries at the Festival of Young Ideas Nov 2013

Parliament of Youth on Sustainability Nov 2013

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Parliament of Youth on SustainabilityOne-page topic responseEach school prepares a one-page topic response on the topic they have studied

Should include up to five (5) proposals for action

Critical thinking; creative thinking

Template and examples available

One one-pager per K-6 and 7-10 per school

KEY DATE:23 August 2013 – one-page topic response due

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

2020 Vision CompetitionStudents invited to communicate a vision for the kinds of changes Canberra could make to become sustainable by 2020

Creative thinking

Medium of choice – art, videos, models, writing, performance, design etc

Year categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

KEY DATE:23 August 2013 – Best four (4) entries in each year category from each school due

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Parliament of Youth on SustainabilityPreparation – 5 minute presentationEach school prepares a 5 minute presentation based on their one-page topic response

Communication; creative thinking

Oral/visual presentation – could include video, powerpoint, song, drama, poem

One presentation per K-6 and 7-10 per school

Guidelines available

KEY DATE:2 and 7 November 2013 – Parliament of Youth

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Parliament of Youth on SustainabilityStudents representatives come together to map out a path towards a sustainable Canberra – come up with an agreed ‘White Paper’

2 reps from each year category from each school: K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

KEY DATES:23 August 2013 – student representative nominations due to SEE-Change2 and 7 November 2013 – Parliament

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Parliament of Youth on SustainabilityDay 1Topic Committees – students deliver their presentation to other students in topic committees; watch other presentations; participate in discussion; vote for best proposals on each topic

Cross-topic Committees – students deliver their presentation and watch presentations on other topics; participate in discussion

Between-Committee Activities – students participate in sustainability-focused activities

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Parliament of Youth on SustainabilityDay 2Full Parliament – all students meet to deliver the best proposals on each topic to whole Parliament; presentation to politicians of Parliament ‘White Paper’ (including one-page topic responses and proposals agreed by Parliament); discussion/Q&A session with politicians

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Festival of Young Ideas: ExhibitionExhibition of the outstanding competition entries

CSIRO Discovery Centre – winners/runners-upBelconnen LibraryDickson LibraryWoden LibraryErindale Library

KEY DATE: Throughout November 2013

2020 Vision Sustainability Project

Shortlisted entries

Practical classroom ideas

ExampleTOPIC: Waste – e-

waste

Julie QuinnKaren Western

Resources

‘Imagining a Sustainable Canberra’ manual

K-6 and 7-12 Teaching Modules – includes many links to useful websites

2020 Vision Handbook

www.see-change.org.au/2020vision

OCSE Fact Sheets

Need help?

2020 Vision Project Officer, Anne Quinnp: 6231 2452e: 2020vision@see-change.org.au

Thanks for coming!

Please fill in theevaluation form

ACT Government targets

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 20106ACT greenhouse gas emissions target

(1) The principal target … is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in theACT to achieve zero net emissions by 30 June 2060.

7 Interim greenhouse gas emissions targets(1) The interim targets are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in

theACT to—

(a) 40% less than 1990 emissions by 30 June 2020; and

(b) 80% less than 1990 emissions by 30 June 2050.

Find the Act at: www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2010-41/default.asp