Sustainability Education
Sustainability education (SE) is not repackaged environmental education
– it goes well beyond that . SE “infuses curriculum and
instruction with concepts that link social, economic and ecological
systems; applies technology to solve, not create problems; fosters respect
for all people; and nurtures creativity, compassion and cooperation.
It imparts a sense of purpose and relevance across disciplines that
equip students to become informed, caring and effective citizens.”
Sustainability is more than a buzzword – it is a new kind of
thinking, a way to pursue environmental stewardship, economic security
and social equity as complementary goals. Education that fosters this
thinking is called sustainability education. The nations of the world,
through the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopted a resolution
in March 2005 establishing 2005 – 2014 as the “Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development (DESD).” CEE, as a member
of the U.S. Partnership for the DESD, is dedicated to bring this global
vision to a national and local scale, integrating the principles of
sustainability education into K-12 education.
