Environmental sustainability in early childhood education Going green

What is sustainability? What is your definition of sustainability? Choose the definition of sustainability that appeals to you the most In your own words describe what you think this means

“Young children are capable and resourceful and able to make decisions that do impact on their own lives and the lives of others. As educators the messages we give children about sustainability will impact on their well being, their play, their thoughts, their relationships, their ability to connect with nature, their desire to explore, discover and the curiosity to learn; their sense of wonder in this amazing planet and all its creatures and people and their ability to care and make decisions that have positive outcomes” Catherine Lee Director, The Point Preschool Oyster Bay NSW

Aspects of sustainability Environmental sustainability Protecting and conserving biodiversity and ensuring natural resources are utilised efficiently

Aspects of sustainability Social sustainability The needs of individuals are identified and their well being is considered. Issues of social inclusion and eradicating poverty are pursued

Aspects of sustainability Economic sustainability Working within the capacity of the natural environment to ensure strong economic growth, stability and competitiveness To identify various strategies that make it possible to utilize available resources to best advantage.

Development of a sustainable building in Sydney (33 Bligh Street, Sydney) and London

Aspects of sustainability A holistic approach must be taken

The impact of key global issues Climate change We are experiencing changes in climate conditions around the world

The impact of key global issues Greenhouse effect The heat radiated from the sun warms the various gases in the earth’s atmosphere. Without these gases it would be impossible for living things to survive. They keep the earth warm and insulated. The greenhouse effect is when there is an increasing concentration of these gases and this increases the world’s temperature

Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have greatly intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming http://science-at-home.org/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work/

Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is released into the air as humans and animals exhale and as we burn fossil fuels. Plants and trees absorb much of this Deforestation is the major contributor to increases in carbon dioxide as trees are cleared for wood and humans living there.

Ecological footprint http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/personal/introduction.asp

Earth resources – Energy in Australia Energy use is the major cause of climate change in Australia This is because 90% of the electricity we use is produced by burning polluting coal This has made Australians the highest per capita greenhouse polluters in the world

Renewable energy Renewable energy is sourced from wind, water, sun and biomass products such as wood Can use renewable energy in the home and in business

Water Australia is one of the driest continents on earth If we combine climate change with increasing populations you can see why we are running out of water We must rethink how we use water more wisely

Food Think about what is in your food – additives, genetic engineering, farming methods, antibiotics for animals, imported foods Think about organic food, local food, food waste of food

Waste Brainstorm options for reducing waste

Chemicals There is no regulatory body in Australia and chemical companies do not have to list their ingredients Discuss what products or not we use in children’s services

Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the eco systems they are part of

CAVEMAN ACTIVITY We live on a finite planet – and Mankind is linked with the earth, our resources are not limitless… Unless children have the chance to interact and experience nature they will not develop a love or appreciation for the environment and its resources. This activity is important as it shows that our resources are diminishing over time and thus it is vital that our children learn from an early age how to interact with nature and develop a love and appreciation for the environment in order to preserve our resources and the planet itself.

CAVEMAN ACTIVITY Appoint a time keeper & 6 volunteers. Each person has two attempts to take leaves from the bowl. PERSON #1 - cave person – 2 fingers #2- Iron age 3 fingers #3 - industrial age – 4 fingers #4 - information technology age – 5 fingers #5 - the future – take what ever is left   EXERCISE: (this to explain how things will run out) Take 5 people and line them up at the front. Have some folded recycled cardboard or leaves in a bowl to represent earths resources. Appoint a time keeper. Each person will take leaves from the bowl 1st person is a cave person – can only use 2 fingers and has 5 seconds to take as many as they can 2nd person is from the Iron age (they had a few more tools and resources) – can use 3 fingers and has 4 seconds 3rd person is from the industrial age – can use 4 fingers and 3 seconds 4th person is from the information technology age – can use 5 fingers and 2 seconds 5th person is the future – what ever is left   We are moving faster as we have more tools. It is going to run out.

We need to give children the opportunity to engage with the natural world in order to value and appreciate it.

This is the critical decade Are we empowering our children with the resources to enable them to preserve the planet?

Children are the future The best Speech - Severn Suzuki - YouTube

The Point pre-school http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/documents/doc-249-bcs-point-preschool-final.pdf