The goal of education is to make people wiser, more knowledgeable, better informed, ethical, respons

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From the United Nations on global education
The goal of education is to make people wiser,
more knowledgeable, better informed, ethical,
responsible, critical and capable of continuing
to learn. Education also serves society by
providing a critical reflection on the world,
especially its failings and injustices, and by
promoting greater consciousness and awareness,
exploring new visions and concepts, and inventing
new techniques and tools. Education is also the
means for disseminating knowledge and developing
skills, for bringing about desired changes in
behaviours, values and lifestyles, and for
promoting public support for the continuing and
fundamental changes that will be required if
humanity is to alter its course, leaving the
familiar path that is leading towards growing
difficulties, and starting the uphill climb
towards sustainability. Education, in short, is
humanitys best hope and most effective means to
the quest to achieve sustainable
development. Educating for a Sustainable Future
A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted
Action UNESCO, 1997 (paragraph 40)
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SENSE Sustainability Education in Nova Scotia
for Everyone
Nova Scotia Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) Working Group (ESDWG)
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Education for Sustainable Development Historical
International Background

• Agenda 21 global agenda agreed to at the Rio
  Summit in 1992 Article 36 on Education
• Council of Ministers of Education Canada -
  Educating for Sustainability The Status of
  Sustainable Development Education in Canada 1999
• Canadian federal government launches
  consultations on Environmental Sustainability
  Education from 1999-2002
• Rio 10 World Summit on Sustainable
  Development in 2002
• UN Education for Sustainable Development Decade
  2005-2014 proclaimed
• (http//portal.unesco.org/education)
• Environment Canada is department with mandate to
  fulfill national obligations
• Learning for a Sustainable Future begins to
  implement national project 2005

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Education for Sustainable Development National
Provincial Background

• Manitoba was the first pilot province in 2005
• Seven pilot projects across the country in 2006
• NSEN Environmental Education Caucus applied and
  received funding in February 2006
• March 2006-March 2007 was the first year of
  SENSE (3 meetings)
• United Nations Decade of Education for
  Sustainable Development (200514)
• Canada's Response to the UNESCO Questionnaire
  2006
• October 2007-March 2008 second year of SENSE (4
  meetings, Symposium)
• Report to UNECE and UNESCO on Indicators of
  Education for Sustainable Development 2007

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Education for Sustainable Development
Opportunities

• Saint Marys University Sustainability Taskforce
  2007
• Dalhousie Universitys Office of Sustainability
  2008
• Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities Municipal
  Sustainability Office
• Nova Scotia Community Colleges Green Collar
  Worker
• NS Department of Economic Development
  Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity
• New Act 2007 in NS Environmental Goals
  Sustainable Prosperity Act
• Established 2008 Nova Scotia Ministers
  Roundtable on Environment Sustainable
  Prosperity
• Federal Sustainable Development Act came into
  force this summer

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT KEY ACTION THEMES

• Gender Equality
• Health Promotion
• Environment
• Rural Development
• Cultural Diversity
• Peace Human Security
• Sustainable Urbanization
• Sustainable Consumption

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY AREAS
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Provincial/Territorial ESD Working Groups (ESDWG)

• Vision to support and foster a culture of ESD in
  each jurisdiction
• They will achieve this vision by engaging senior
  leaders from provincial ministries, federal
  government, the formal, informal and non-formal
  education sectors, business and community
  organizations in determining the goals,
  priorities and objectives for ESD activities and
  working together to support their regional
  advancement.

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Objectives for the Establishment of an ESDWG

• Build Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
  into the formal, non-formal and informal
  education culture.
• Establish strategic collaborations between
  governments, education sector leaders, business,
  and community NGOs
• Relay a sense of urgency and the latest science
  on critical sustainability issues such HIV/Aids,
  climate change, poverty reduction and energy.
• Coordinate, facilitate connections and bring
  together stake-holders for policy input, debate,
  exchange, planning to enhance delivery of ESD
  activities.

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National ESD Expert Council (NESDEC)

• Part of Canadas response to the UN Decade for
  ESD.
• Includes representatives of the
  Provincial/Territorial ESD Working Groups as well
  as other key national ESD players.
• Will address cross-cutting issues of ESD and
  promote research, communication, and the sharing
  of best practices.
• Last meeting Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2008 in Toronto
• NS Representatives were Susan Kelley, CBVSB and
  Tracy Webb, Horton High School New
  representatives?
• Next meeting expected Nov. 28-29, 2008 in
  Winnipeg

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ESD - SENSE Structure Partners
United Nations UNESCO
Government of Canada Environment Canada
Learning for a Sustainable Future
National Expert Council
Manitoba
BC, Manitoba, NB, Nunavut, ON
Nova Scotia SENSE
Tamara Lorincz, Rhea Dawn Mahar, Laurel McIvor,
Others?
Steering Committee Advisory Committee
Karen Potter, Kim Monaghan, Pamela Schwartzberg,
Elaine Rubinoff Janelle Frail (Coordinator)
Over 160 organizations, businesses and individuals
Members
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SENSE Goals Activities

• Advance sustainability education in the formal,
  non-formal, and informal sectors educate every
  Nova Scotian on sustainability
• Formal school system (K-12) Ecological
  Footprint School Greening Facilities
• Non-formal training and education outside the
  formal school system, working with communities
  businesses on sustainability planning
• Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative,
  Symposium
• In-formal media, etc Media and SENSE
  Directory
• Assists in the activity and reporting on the UN
  DESD
• Collaborative, joint projects

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How we can move forward

• Advancing Sustainability Education in Nova
  Scotia Action Plan / Policy Framework
• Long-term plan for SENSE a new anchoring
  organization
• Recommendations to the NS Department of
  Education
• Establish a position Sustainable Development
  Coordinator at Senior Executive level (reports to
  Deputy Minister)
• K-12 Sustainable Development Consultant to help
  with curriculum

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What should SENSE do?

• Advancing Sustainability Education in Nova
  Scotia Action Plan / Policy Framework
• Provincial Consultations on Sustainability
  Education
• Second Annual Sustainability Education Symposium
  new theme?
• Earth Charter presentations and organization
  sign on?
• Provincial Teach-In on Climate Change ?
• Networking Meetings when where?
• National Campaign for Federal Support of DESD
  past 2009 until the Decade ends in 2014