Mandatory Climate Change and Environmental Education: A Top Global Priority”.

 Mandatory Climate Change and Environmental Education: A Top Global Priority”.

By. Rodolfo “ROPO” Beltran

Director, Earth Day Network, Region South America.                                                 27/07/2020

ORIGINAL SPANISH VERSION https://www.redem.org/cambio-climatico-y-educacion-ambiental-obligatoria-una-prioridad-global/

An Integral, Mandatory Climate Change, and Environmental Education Program in K-12 School Systems with strong civic participation and community engagement is a message of our times. 

The first Earth Day was launched in New York, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on April 22nd, 1970 when 20 million people expressed a civic action from the base of society. Teachers, students, citizens of the world, and Senator Gaylord Nelson and multi-party legislators called to take global action for our environment. After its foundation important legislation was approved in the United States of America as the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act.  Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act.  A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act and soon after the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. 

On April 22nd, 2020, Earth Day Network (EDN)   commemorated its 50th anniversary along with a message of solidarity with the current pandemic COVID-19. The event was a “CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL REFERENDUM”. Unlike any other anniversary, a live-streamed digital event broadcast reached more than 8.5 million views, and Earth Day was the number-one trending hashtag around the world. More than 100 million people worldwide raised their voices for action, improvement, and enforcing existing legislation for our planet. 

Climate Change, Environment, Civic Education, and Community engagement are present issues that need to be addressed. 

 “The world is treating the health and economic symptoms of the coronavirus pandemic but not the environmental cause according to the authors of a UN report”.  UNESCO  calls that the present CORONA VIRUS should be addressed mainly in their causes instead of only its symptoms. 

The current situation demands mandatory  civic  actions and a global and integral Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Environmental Education

As expressed by Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network:

“Earth Day Network is committed to increasing global environmental and climate literacy. We are dedicated to ensuring that every student around the world completes their formal education as an environmental and climate literate citizen, ready to take action and speak up for change”.

“Earth Day Network believes every school in the world must have compulsory, tested climate and environmental education with a strong civic engagement component “

During Earth Day 2020 Campaign we had the opportunity to analyze the current situation and positive actions in the last years by  National, State, Municipal Governments, and Civil Society in South American Countries. Our special gratitude to the Ministries of Environment and Ministries of Education, State, Municipal Governments, and more than 90 Honorary Partners, Ambassadors, and 3,000 Voluntaries.  Their support messages for actions for the environment and climate change are mentioned and in our media channels. 

This continent has a 5.53% share of the global population and is a small CO2 emitter accounting for 3-4% of global emission, has more than 40 percent of the Earth's biodiversity, and more than one-quarter of its forests.

Certainly, an important area of Mother Earth to protect.

As in the United States of America in most countries of South America  K-12 Education is mandatory and the environmental approach is indicated in several constitutions and adopted by Federal Governments that set General Policies and Funding for educational resources. Its implementation is delegated to local State and Municipal Governments. In many cases, Climate Change and Environment Education are only partially included in other disciplines such as social sciences or similar. All countries have made commitments to protect local Flora, Fauna to reach a minimum of 30% of Protected Areas and follow the United Nations agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals.

At present due to CORONA VIRUS-COVID 19 Pandemic Regulations, most Schools have adopted Virtual Education until further notice or are in vacation periods and most likely will re-open in fall following similar criteria of the Protocol of the New Jersey State.USA: Making optional for parents to decide on Virtual and F2F scenarios.  New Jersey, the Garden State is the first state to add climate change to its K-12 education standards. 

One approach is to Integrate, Climate Change, Education Literacy, and Civic Education in one interrelated and interdisciplinary campaign sustained by school Directors,  Teachers, Students along with families and neighbors of organized communities.  Ideally, to have a combination of School Theory and activities such as civic education, tree planting, clean-ups, recycling and flora, and fauna protection.

At the end of this article, we show some examples in South America. Unfortunately, it is not possible to describe all current and similar or even better activities in the Region.  However, in EDN, there is a permanent follow up to support Climate Change and Environment Education (CC&E Literacy) in Latin America and the world.

Other examples of Leadership education in Environment, Climate Change, and a Civic Activities in South America are The Climate Reality Brazil –Al Gore, Limpa Brasil –Let´s do it, Vamos  Hacerlo Argentina, Jane Goodall  Institute and  ROOTS & SHOOTS Argentina among others. Congratulations for their support mentions and actions for our World to all the entities mentioned in our YouTube   

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MANDATORY CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 

During the Santiago-Madrid COP25 in 2019, a commitment was presented by the Governments of Italy and Mexico, with the support of WEE, Earth Day Network, and other stakeholders,  to ramp up climate change and environmental education and was welcomed by the UN office which supports global efforts to respond to climate change.  Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), expressed her hope and announced that more nations will follow this initiative in the near future. 

At Present the UNFCCC / ACE   is having important Dialogues coordinated by Adriana Valenzuela, focal point, UN Climate, with all Regions of the world in order that Mandatory  CC&E Literacy is the main point to be reaffirmed in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow  Scotland UK. 

Earth Day Network (EDN) and its Global Partners are contributing to a global commitment to implement, enforce and evaluate national education initiatives to introduce and enhance climate and environmental education across grade levels and disciplines of educational systems. 

CC&E LITERACY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION.

The National Center of Education Statistics the Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enacted in 1975, mandates that children and youth ages 3–21 with disabilities be provided a free and appropriate public school education. The percentage of total public school enrollment that represents children served by federally supported special education programs increased from 8.3 percent to 13.8 percent between 1976–77 and 2004–05 .” 

This percentage of students may rise up to 20 % in some  South American countries. 

It is an area to be considered for quality and integral plans of K-12 education for the public and private sectors.

According to UNESCO  “in the last two decades, Climate Change and Environmental Education (CCEE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) have become major tools for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development.

“When empowered and educated on climate change by child-friendly schools, children can reduce the vulnerability of themselves and their communities to the risk and contribute to sustainable development. According to the research, educating girls and women is one of the best ways of strengthening community adaptation to climate change”

“UNCC Learn DISASTER RISK REDUCTION DRR  in Education indicates the imperative for Education Policymakers to include Risk Training associated with Climate Change Education and highlights the importance of education for building a society resilient and integrating disaster risk reduction in education”.

SOME EXAMPLES OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INTERELATED WITH CIVIC ACTIONS BY FEDERAL; STATE; and MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS   and THE ORGANIZED COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AMERICA  

All have in common a sustainable and integral plan of Civic, Climate Change, and Environmental Education as well as community engagement.

(Note: Most Images of Events are dated prior to Pandemic Regulations March 2020) 

BRASIL:   “ITINERANT ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM” of the Prefeitura – Municipal Government of the City of Rio de Janeiro, a city of 6.6  million inhabitants    

https://www.facebook.com/SOSLAGOAS/videos/747733505989669 VIDEO ONG SOS LAGOAS. The Itinerary Environment Education Program , Rio de Janeiro Brazil . Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro 

The ′′ SMAC ′′ of the Municipal Secretary of Environment project directed by Secretary BERNARDO EGAS LIMA FOSECA has implemented vans that visit regularly more than 60 parks and squares in the city, making it possible to expand the scope of the work developed by the Environmental Education Center or  “CENTRO DE  EDUCACACAO AMBIENTAL”, that has its traveling vans bringing information about the environment and climate to schools, squares, and condominiums. It joins forces with Environmental  Organizations such as SOS LAGOAS, CRISTIANA QUIROGA, Honorary Partner of Earth Day 2020 “Vamos Salvar las Lagunas” in the flora and fauna conservation Clean Ups and recycling of the Barra de Tijuca Lagoons and River System.

BRASIL: Another example in Brazil is the Environmental Literacy Program of the Sub Secretary of Environmental Education of  SIMA led by Coordinator MARIA LOURDES ROCHA FREIRE, also Honorary Partner of Earth Day 2020. In coordination with the Secretary of Education of the Government of the State of Sao Paulo  it was launched in 2019 and among other regular activities combines and makes mandatory Reading and Writing proficiency along with Environmental Literacy at the age of seven. Climate and Environmental Education is included in the Integral Curriculum of the Ministry of Education of Brazil.. 

Environmental Literacy Program of SIMA Secretary of Infrastructure and Environmental Education in Coordination with the Secretary of Education  of the Government of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

BRASIL: 

ABRASOFFA  a private NGO and Honorary Partner of Earth Day 2020  South America has sustainable national and international programs in Art, Folklore, and Environmental Education. They also direct their attention to civic and inclusive participation. It is a non-profit organization, with OSCIP title and special consultative status from ECOSOC-UN. Presided bay  HELENA DE LOURENCO its projects are focused to integrate culture, folklore and traditions, social, educational development, and social inclusion. Headquartered in Santos Brazil, it has an international presence in several countries in Latin America and internationally. Among several events (now temporarily virtual ), one, in particular, called our attention for its message of Culture, art, and folklore as well as the importance of being an Inclusive Community to face Climate Change and the protection of our environment. This is the case of its members BERNARDO ZAMARI DIOGO and sister VALENTINA ZAMARI DIOGO that dedicated to Earth 2020 one of the most beautiful and creative messages calling action for Climate Change.

ABRASOFFA, Brazil, Integral, and INCLUSIVE Organization Honorary Partner of Earth Day South America Message from their members BERNARDO ZAMARI DIOGO and sister VALENTINA ZAMARI DIOGO dedicated to Earth 2020

PERU: 

Primary and Secondary School Alfred Nobel, Director: NESTOR PÉREZ SALGADO from the Public System-  UGEL 05 from San Juan de Lurigancho Directed by MG. ELVA MUÑOZ TUESTA, with support of the Honorary Partner Earth Day 2020 South America  Organization PERU SEMBRANDO VIDA, Mrs. Mafalda Leguia,  shares classrooms courses on climate change and the environment with clean-ups, school orchards with the participation of Students, Teachers, Directors, Former Students, family and community neighbors.  The School is part of  Seven  Local Educational Management Units UGEL and 1,000 Schools of the Ministry of Education of Peru in  Metropolitan Lima.  Climate and Environmental Education is included in the Integral Curriculum of the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Environment of Peru. 

IE ALFRED NOBEL UGEL 05, Lima Peru. Image & Source – Org. SEMBRANDO VIDA PER

AREQUIPA, PERU:   

Buscando Soñadores –Reaching for Dreamers ONG PA YACHAY  -,  CIVIC  and INTEGRAL  EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.  As expressed by its Director JUAN CARLOS BANICH  Honorary Partner of Earth Day 2020, this  Elementary School is  “Destined to give greater accessibility to the poor population to receive a quality initial and primary education, based on moral values and being aware that a prepared childhood is a fundamental pillar for the future society. Counts with International support and volunteers that share civic and integral education. They have a curriculum according to what is indicated by the Ministry of Education so that our students graduate with the same knowledge, but additionally using different learning techniques and emphasis on the cultural, artistic and personal development aspects. Spanish language education, with an intensive English course, and also a Quechua course, to maintain this important language today and prevent its disappearance”.

Climate  and Environmental Education is included in the Integral Curriculum of the Ministry of Education with the Coordination of the Ministry of Environment of Peru,  

Reaching for Dreamers ONG PA YACHAY  -. CIVIC  and INTEGRAL and CIVIC  EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. COLCA, AREQUIPA, PERU. VIDEO  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKnX9utaAXo&t=2

PERU:  MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF LIMA

The Municipal Government of the city of Lima, headed by Mayor JORGE MUÑOZ WELLS is a great supporter of  Environment and Climate  Change Education. EDUCA LIMA  and the ESCUELA DE LIMA reach Metropolitan Lima a city of 10 Million inhabitants permanently associated with Organization and Communities on Civic Actions, Environment, and Climate Change. The Municipality of Lima is an  Honorary Partners of Earth Day 2020 and made special support statements and activities during the week of Earth Day 2020. They have launched, among many other  Civic and Climate Change Actions, Protection of Flora and Fauna, Pantano's de Villa and the neighboring hills of Lima, quality of air, Green Cities, forestation, and conservation of natural ecosystems.

A major contribution is an Integral online Sustainable  Climate Change, Environment, and Civic Education Program. 

VIDEO. MAYOR JORGE MUÑOZ MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF LIMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvtXY5krKRc

COLOMBIA: 

CORPOYACA  a Regional Government Organizations directed by  Herman Amaya Téllez,has successfully applied since 2016 their program THE RECOVERY OF DREAMS  

"Playing, Recycling and Winning, the Planet We are Saving"

This project is part of the 2016 - 2019 Action Plan of the Boyacá Regional Autonomous Corporation enrolled in the program, Formation of a Culture for Environmental Sustainability. Its fundamental purpose is to achieve the commitment of the population in environmental conservation, from effective recycling practices and the development of environmental education activities. It is aimed at the manufacture of infrastructure elements built with recycled plastic (plastic wood) in schools, colleges, companies, JAC, educational sites, especially with the participation of children and youth in the region.

    

Images: CORPOBOYACA. ECUACION AMBIENTAL, Programaa RECUPERANDO SUEÑOS

Video.: CORPOBOYACA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2-hJgRTh

This project is articulated with the guidelines and legal precepts established in the National Environmental Policy Plan; collected in The Action Plan 2016 - 2019, applicable to the formulation of projects that promote the protection and conservation of renewable natural resources and the environment with training and positioning of environmental culture.

Climate and Environmental Education is included in the Integral Curriculum of the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Environment of Colombia. 

COLOMBIA:   

Leader FRANCISCO JAVIER VERA MANZANARES  an Earth Day 2020 Honorary Partner leads the Guardians of the Earth Movement. Among its goals are civic actions, environmental education, strikes for the Environment, flora and fauna protection, and  Cracking. He and his team are citizens for the earth and participate in public and media meetings with  Governors, Senators, and country leaders and obtained Commitments for a healthy relationship with the environment. He also participates in Fridays for Future, Let´s do it and other Environmental Organizations.      

Leader FRANCISCO JAVIER VERA MANZANARES an Earth Day 2020 Honorary Partner leads the Guardians of the Earth Movement. Organizes strike and meetings with Political and Civic Leaders demanding attention for Environment and Climate Change, Fracking and Flora and Fauna Protection.

ARGENTINA: 

HORACIO RODRIGUEZ LARETA Mayor of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires is an honorary partner of Earth Day 2020   and has made commitments and support statements in favor of environmental and climate change Education with programs such as DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING CENTER    Corporacion Buenos Aires Sur. 

The main objective of the Demonstration and Training Center is the environmental and comprehensive education of schoolchildren and the general public, who visit the space throughout the year to live a different educational experience.

The activities that are carried out have the objective of environmental education, promoting the construction of knowledge and values tending to the sustainability of life through the protection of natural heritage, the preservation of native flora, quality of air, forestation, and conservation of natural ecosystems. 

      

 Source. Earth Day South America and Corporacion Buenos Aires- Sur  Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Lareta.    Demonstration and Training Center of the Municipal Government of the City of Buenos Aires https://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/corporacionsur/educacion-ambiental