Environmental Education in the context of DESD

in the Asia Pacific

AEEAP 2008-12, Side EventWorld Conference on ESD, Bonn

Mr Mahesh PradhanUNEP/ROAP/RRC.AP

1 April 2009

Outline

Environmental ChallengesEE and ESD – UNEP’s approachAEEAP update and opportunities

State of the environment

Air Releasing atmospheric pollutants faster than nature can absorb them

LandCutting trees faster than

they can regenerate and converting them to deserts soil erosion exceeds new

soil formation

WaterOverpumping aquifers and melting glaciers and drain rivers dry

Biodiversity Destroying plant and animal

species far faster than new species can evolve.

Indoor

Urban

Regional

Global

Air CO2 emission: 1800-1950 > 0.2 ppm/p.a1960 < 1.3 ppm/p.a6 fold increaseDust Storm in NE AsiaAtmospheric Brown Cloud

State of the environment

WaterDemand tripled in last 50 yearsGround water table falling (1m p.a.)Rivers dry (e.g Yellow River, Amu Darya)Glaciers retreating

State of the environment

-40

-20

0

20

40

1995 2000 2020 2040

Projected water deficit (-) / Surplus (+) for dry season in Mekong basin

Surp

lus

Deficit

000 MCM

LandLand degradation:

Soil erosion(e.g. Ethiopia 1b tons p.a.)

Deforestation(‘75-’90: 220m hectares

20% Pasture and rangeland damaged

State of the environment

Arable and Permanent Crops (M ha)

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Developing

Developed

Biodiversity Species extinct (1972-

2002)24 percent mammals and 12

percent bird

Between 1970 & 2000Population of terrestrial species

declined by 30%Population of fresh water species

declined by 50%Population of marine species

declined by 30%

Deforestation rate14.6 million ha annually

State of the environment

387 ha of forest is removed every year in Myanmar.

1985/86

ForestAgriculture

1992/93

The Asia Pacific RegionThe Asia Pacific Region

40% of Global Economy

Rest of theworld

AsiaPacific

Over 60% of Population

Rest of theworld Asia

Pacific

Over 70% of Poor

Rest ofthe world

AsiaPacific

National Level Capacity Building for Environment Management

Air, Water, Land, Biodiversity in critical state: Natural Disasters

Focus on MDGsWSSD Follow-upNational Strategies for SDInitiatives for Environment Treaties

Sub-regional Partnerships

SPREPIGCI, USP, UNDP

ASEAN, GMS, MRCAIT, TEI, IUCN, UNDP

SAARC, ICIMOD,SACEP

BCAS, DA, TERISDPI, Sarvodaya, IUCN,

UNDP

ISDCSIC, UNDP

TEMMADORC, IGES, NIES, NIER, Tongji IESD,

EPLC, UNDP

Mega Issue Mega Issue -- UrbanizationUrbanization

• Asia will have an urban level of 54% by 2030 • 40 % of the poor are already in urban areas• The urban transition will receive a massive investment over the next 50 years• Infrastructure last for 80 – 100 years• Ensure “zero emission” in housing and mobility

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

24%

54%(2.6 billion)

37%(1.4 billion)

Source: World Population Prospects

Urb

an P

opul

atio

n ( M

i llio

ns)

01975 2000 2030

Water SecurityWater Security

•Demand 60 lt 600 lt per capita;•Supply: ground water depletion up to 6 m;•Surface water pollution plus depletion at source;•Silent Tsunami

FOOD SECURITY

Decreasing water table

Increasing temperature

Increasing supply to cities

Decreasing supply to agriculture 2003

105 million tons grain short fall

(largest in the record)

• 3 of the 4 warmest years on record came during the last 4 years

• 2004 was the 5th consecutive year in which the harvest falls short of consumption

Energy SecurityEnergy Security

Source: Himal South Asia

Existing domestic networks and proposed international Existing domestic networks and proposed international gaslinesgaslinesPlaned Planed natural gas natural gas pipeline from pipeline from Myanmar to Myanmar to India through India through BangladeshBangladesh

PovertyPoverty

(Source World Bank)

Each figure represents 10 million persons living on $1 a day or less at 1985 international prices.

900 million people in Asia-Pacific are poor and it is 70% of the worlds poor people.

II. EE/ESD Background/Concepts

Landmark events1972: UNCHE – Principle 191975: Tbilisi Conf – EE1992: Agenda 21: Chapter 352002: WSSD: DESD, 2005-20142009: World Conference on DESD: Mid-Term Review

ConceptsNew generation of leadershipGlobal environmental citizenshipSpectrum: Awareness, training, education

Knowledge, skills, behaviour/values

UNEP update

Medium Term Strategy 2010-13:Climate ChangeDisasters and ConflictEcosystem ManagementEnvironmental GovernanceHazardous WastesResource Efficiency

Implementation MechanismsSound ScienceAwareness and OutreachCapacity building and Technology SupportCooperation, Coordination and PartnershipsSustainable Financing for the global environment

EET within UNEP

Environmental Education is fundamental to the achievement of the goal of SD.

Education, awareness raising and training are essential to UNEP fulfilling its mandate of inspiring informing and enabling nations and peoples to achieve SD

EET in UNEP undertakes this crucial function by developing and strengthening EE and training initiatives to address all institutions, governments, segments, and ages in society

UNEP Tongji IESD

Established on May 9, 2002 Agreement to establish IESD jointly by UNEP and Tongji University for 5 yearsTongji University: Centennial celebrations, May 2007Agreement renewed in May 2007 for 5 more years

Regional University ConsortiumUNEP Asia-Pacific University Consortium on Environment for Sustainable Development

Established on Sep.17th , 2003

Members: Tongji University Griffith University University of New South Wales Nanyang Technological University Asian Institute of TechnologyUnited Nations UniversityWollongong UniversityYale University

Providing counseling , assistance and resource persons for the program of IESD, including education, training and research

Charter, Bye Laws, 5 year business plan

IESD/RUC activitiesEducation

International Master’s Program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

Research Partnership with RUC members, different colleges inside Tongji University, international agencies and universitiesFocused on applied SD

OutreachAnnual Leadership Programmes on Environment for Sustainable Development

IESD/RUC: Education

International Master’s Program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

(Launched in September 2006)PhD – started 2008 onwardsBachelors – 2009/10 onwardsAlso bottoms up: Primary - SecondaryModel curriculum packaged and disseminated for local adaptation

IESD/RUC Research:

To reinforce postgraduate education;To support UNEP’s research requirements;To reinforce Tongji University’s research; To address regional research needs:

Sustainable River Basin ManagementEco-City Planning and ManagementSustainable Development EnterpriseEnergy SecurityBioprocess and Environmental Technology

IESD/RUC Outreach:Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable DevelopmentOrganizing Institutions:

UNEP-Tongji IESDUNEP/ROAP and RUC

Supporting Institutions: Hanns Seidel Foundation IndonesiaMinistry of Education of ChinaLuo Hong

Timeframe: One week to ten days Annual ProgrammeOffered in 2004-2014

Participants: Approx. 200+ applications/yr25-35 participants/yrMore than 120 alumni (2008)

Course Module

HUMAN

MIND

BODY

SOUL

ENVIRONMENTSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

ECON

SOCIETY

ENV

AIR

LANDWATER

Three Dimensions of UNEPThree Dimensions of UNEP--Tongji Leadership ProgrammeTongji Leadership Programme

Other Sub-regional activities

SPREPEducation for a Sustainable Pacific, 2006-2008Curriculum reviewTraining for Young leaders

South AsiaSAEETAP, 2003-07Formal, nonformal, information and capacity buildingPartnership with SIDA and CEE

Northeast AsiaTEEN

National level

MongoliaCurriculum reviewNational strategyInter-Ministerial coordination

DPR KoreaJoint project with UNDP

Maldives, NepalModel curriculum with CEE support

AEEAP Launch and Implementation Workshop, 14-16 July 2008, Cha-amIGES/UNEP Regional Strategy Consultation Meeting on ESD in Southeast Asia, 17-18 November 2008, Bangkok

AEEP 2008-12

The overall outcome of the successful implementation of the AEEAP will be a region that feels an increased connection and cooperative spirit in forging new societies based on the principles of ecological, social and economic sustainability.

Target Area 1: Formal Sector

Policy LevelAll countries have adopted EESD policies and emphasized the integration of EE into the school curriculum.Some countries also have a national master plan on EESD: NEEAP of SD (2005-2014) in Philippines, 30 year long term education play in Myanmar, and EESD master plan (2008-2012) in Thailand.

Target Area 1: Formal Sector

National StructureOnly Cambodia has an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for EE, established by Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and Ministry of Culture and Regional Affairs.

Target Area 1: Formal Sector

EESD in SchoolsAll countries continue to favor nature conservation incorporated into the study of science, geography, social science, and eco-clubs.All countries have produced EE modules and materials quite a number at all level of education as well as teacher guide.

Target Area 1: Formal Sector

ChallengesHowever, teachers in most countries have little experience and skills of integration into their subjects as well as across all subject areas, except Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.The most difficulty of integration is due to involvement with many teachers from different subjects.

Target Area 1: Formal Sector

EESD in UniversityAll countries have EE subjects/courses in universities both for bachelor degrees and master degrees.However, EE is still NOT a “must”compulsory subject/course that students have to study.

Target Area 2: Non-formal Sector

Sustainable SchoolsMalaysia: 4 components/criteria (Management Curriculum, Co-curriculum, greening activities); Award ProgrammeThailand： ‘Eco School Indicator Framework’Brunei:

The Philippines: Eco-waste friendly schools

Community levelMalaysia (‘Env. Awareness camp’: 7 modules/ ‘Community environmental hero’)Laos (Health, income generation) Cambodia (livelihood programme/ religious groups, monk education) Singapore: Champions (community as well as corporations/schools)Philippines (incorporation of EE into alternative education/ technical education; downloadable educational materials)Myanmar (educational materials and seminars for villagers)

Target Area 2: Non-formal SectorEnvironmentally Sustainable Cities

Malaysia (Environment Awards)….

Environmentally Sustainable BusinessBrunei: Multi-stakeholder working group to facilitate participation of various actorsSingapore: ‘Corporate and School Partnership’ (CASP; former ‘Adopt-a-school programme’ )

160 partnerships (incl. special/ international schools)Brunei: ‘Adopt-a-school programme’

Various awards

ASEAN Environment WeekBrunei: Handbook/kit, national level programmes and activities to commemorate the Week

Target Area 3: Manpower

Training Centres: EiMAS (Malaysia), STEP Centre (Brunei), Waterhub/SEI (Singapore)Refresher/Training courses: All AMCsEE study tours: VietnamScholarships: ThailandLeadership Training: Women (Malaysia)

Target Area 4: Networking

Magazines: Malaysia, Singapore, Collaboration with media: Malaysia, MyanmarAudio visual materialsLibraries/CEPANational workshops: VietnamWorking Group: LaosASEAN Youth Network: Brunei, Philippines, Singapore (Concert)Civil Society/NGO Networks: Philippines, Singapore,Recognition/Awards:

Recommendations

There is a need to establish an EE secretariat and EE working group as there are no national coordinator currently. The working group may be guided by a steering committee lead by DOE, NRE.Seed funds should be given to support new or innovative initiatives on EE.Provide more training opportunities for practitioners and build capacity on EE resources and expertise.Establish a EE database and a EE portal for the country. The EE portal or web‐site should be user‐friendly.Groundwork should be done to formulate accreditation for EE programmes.Effective and continuous regional exchange of knowledge, skills, experience, expertise and best practicesDevelop a social marketing strategy in collaboration with concerned private sectors for raising awareness and understanding of EESD to wider public Organize the ASEAN EESD awards such as documentary film awardDevelop the ASEAN EESD online newsletter Promote the mainstreaming of EE/ESD in formal education system

Recommendations

ASEAN EE for Sustainable Development Leadership Training Programmes (short courses) for various target groups:ASEAN Forum on the Development of Policy, Guidelines, Framework and Recognition/ Awards Scheme for Sustainable/

Green SchoolsASEAN-wide Educational Field Visits (ex. Private sector involvement model in Singapore’s Adopt-A-School Program, etc.)Establishing a Secretariat body independent of the ASEAN Secretariat to overlook the Environmental EducationTo form ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education for Sustainable DevelopmentRegional sharing of the experiences and expertise could be made via forums or networking via the web on a regional level

Recommendations

To strengthen cooperation between formal and non-formal educationTo educate widely, the local people on the importance of conservationTo let the people know that the only place where we can live and thrive is the mother earth aloneTo put value on ecosystemsTo closely collaborate between AMCs as well as UN and other organisationsThere is a need for the developed countries to train those from the developing countries in the fields of conservation

Recommendations

Teachers of all disciplines in general education schools must be trained regularly Investments in new equipment Cooperation with other relevant government ministries in promoting EE Organizing surveys to evaluate EE/ESD demandOrganizing national workshops on EE for Sustainable Development

Recommendations

Training of trainersProvide environmental knowledge to in-services and pre-service teachers,Youth exchange program (Youth Camps, Youth Environmental Debate, etc.),Scholarships on EE degree and non-degree courses,EE funding?

Some Considerations

Ownership – AEEAP, if not/so what ?Joint projects/Scaling up Best PracticesRegional initiatives:

ASEAN Eco schoolsASEAN Environment WeekASEAN youth networkLeadership ProgrammesClearing House Mechanisms…Awards schemes

+3 Partnerships - proposals

Opportunities

MTS areas – Climate Change Knowledge Platform (UNEP), Cambodia

(UNESCO), Vietnam (UNESCO), Laos (PEI)Youth – SEAYEN, YouthXchangeCivil SocietyADB – GMSIGESHSF

AEEAP Partnerships1 + 1 = 11