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1. What exactly is sustainability?
Before you can ask yourself the question “What is sustainability in schools?”, you first need to define what sustainability basically means: sustainability is a term that is often used in connection with environmental protection and nature conservation. It describes the responsible use of the earth’s finite resources or nature. These should retain their natural ability to regenerate in the long term and thus remain available for future generations.
However, sustainability is not only about the environment, but also about social and economic aspects. A sustainable society is committed to ensuring that all people are treated fairly, have access to education and healthcare and can live in a stable economy.
Under the umbrella of the United Nations, 178 countries have committed themselves to preserving the natural basis of life as a global policy goal in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and in Agenda 21. Agenda 21 contains a detailed programme of action with 17 goals in the categories of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.
2. Why is sustainability important in schools?
Sustainable development is a task to which everyone must contribute and education in particular plays a central role in this. Children must be made aware of the impact that each individual’s actions have on the development of the world and this awareness must also be taught at school. The goal of responsible environmental education is laid down in the UN action programme ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ (ESD) and is now also anchored in the curricula of all federal states. Both the acquisition of knowledge and the sensitisation of children to a sustainable way of life are central to this. Pupils should become aware of the impact of their own actions on the world and learn how to make responsible decisions.
3. How do you explain sustainability to children?
The concept of sustainability is omnipresent in the media and in everyday life and is also of interest to children. It is therefore particularly important to explain to them what it means to live sustainably.
A simple explanation of sustainability for your pupils could look like this: “Sustainability means that you only use as much of something as you can produce again. This is to ensure that resources remain available for future generations. All people, animals and plants should be able to live well on earth in the future. In order to live sustainably, we should only use as much of nature as can grow again and should not waste anything. Animals and our environment must be protected. In addition, the air, water and soil must not be polluted with waste, poison or exhaust fumes. In addition to protecting our environment, we must ensure that no one in the world has to go hungry or work in poor conditions.”
1. What exactly is sustainability?
Before you can ask yourself the question “What is sustainability in schools?”, you first need to define what sustainability basically means: sustainability is a term that is often used in connection with environmental protection and nature conservation. It describes the responsible use of the earth’s finite resources or nature. These should retain their natural ability to regenerate in the long term and thus remain available for future generations.
However, sustainability is not only about the environment, but also about social and economic aspects. A sustainable society is committed to ensuring that all people are treated fairly, have access to education and healthcare and can live in a stable economy.
Under the umbrella of the United Nations, 178 countries have committed themselves to preserving the natural basis of life as a global policy goal in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and in Agenda 21. Agenda 21 contains a detailed programme of action with 17 goals in the categories of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.
2. Why is sustainability important in schools?
Sustainable development is a task to which everyone must contribute and education in particular plays a central role in this. Children must be made aware of the impact that each individual’s actions have on the development of the world and this awareness must also be taught at school. The goal of responsible environmental education is laid down in the UN action programme ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ (ESD) and is now also anchored in the curricula of all federal states. Both the acquisition of knowledge and the sensitisation of children to a sustainable way of life are central to this. Pupils should become aware of the impact of their own actions on the world and learn how to make responsible decisions.
3. How do you explain sustainability to children?
The concept of sustainability is omnipresent in the media and in everyday life and is also of interest to children. It is therefore particularly important to explain to them what it means to live sustainably.
A simple explanation of sustainability for your pupils could look like this: “Sustainability means that you only use as much of something as you can produce again. This is to ensure that resources remain available for future generations. All people, animals and plants should be able to live well on earth in the future. In order to live sustainably, we should only use as much of nature as can grow again and should not waste anything. Animals and our environment must be protected. In addition, the air, water and soil must not be polluted with waste, poison or exhaust fumes. In addition to protecting our environment, we must ensure that no one in the world has to go hungry or work in poor conditions.”
6. Sustainable school trips
Sustainability can also be emphasised when travelling with the school. This will show your class new perspectives and sensitise them to the topic of sustainability – be it in terms of food, shopping or travel behaviour. Various aspects can be considered when preparing a school trip:
- Arrival and departure: When choosing your destination, also consider the carbon footprint of travelling to and from the destination. A school trip with a full coach is usually the most sustainable alternative
- Mobility on site: Local transport can also be organised as sustainably as possible, e.g. on foot, with borrowed bicycles, by coach or public transport.
- Accommodation: Neben der Budgetfrage kann auch die Nachhaltigkeit bei der Auswahl der Unterkunft beachtet werden. Meist sind Hostels, Jugendherbergen oder Gasthäuser bereits durch den geringeren Wäscheverbrauch wesentlich klimafreundlicher als klassische Hotels. Suchen Sie außerdem nach Häusern, die auf ihre Energiebilanz achten und biologische, regionale oder fair gehandelte Produkte verwenden.Quality seals (e.g. Green Seal, Viabono, EU eco-label) can help you with this.
- Catering: There are many different catering options during a school trip. No matter what you choose, the use of organic and fair trade food ensures greater sustainability. The food on offer should also be as meat-free as possible.
- Educational offer: Organise the entire class trip around the theme of sustainability by implementing various project ideas, such as species conservation (Which animal in the destination region is threatened with extinction?), water (How clean are our lakes, seas and rivers?) or climate change (How is climate change changing our lives?). Together with your class, take advantage of local environmental and sustainability education programmes.
- Leisure time: For many pupils, leisure time during a school trip is a special highlight. Programme items in nature, such as hiking, sports games or swimming in the sea and lakes, can be a great sustainable opportunity for joint activities.
Travel providers such as HEROLÉ Klassenfahrten offer support in planning sustainable school trips. With HEROLÉ, schools can easily book school trips that combine fun, recreation and education for sustainable development (ESD) through innovative and creative programmes. This gives pupils the opportunity to learn how they themselves can contribute to sustainability, nature conservation and environmental protection through learning content and research projects.
7. Conclusion
Raising the topic of sustainability at school is particularly important in order to sensitise pupils to sustainable action, impart knowledge and enable them to take action. There are many different ways to actively implement sustainability in everyday school life, e.g. reducing electricity and water consumption, waste separation or sustainable school trips. In addition, many school subjects lend themselves to the integration of sustainable topics – from the importance of bees to coal mining in Lützerath. In this way, the school can realise education for sustainable development and pupils and teachers can make a joint contribution to environmental protection and sustainability.