Education and Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future in the U.S. Debra Rowe, Ph.D President U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development Professor Sustainable Energy Technologies and Behavioral Sciences Oakland Community College

Key Concepts, Overview of Trends, and Resources Part IWhat is sustainable development and what is education for a sustainable future? Part II National Trends and Examples Throughout: Resources and Opportunities

Green jobs: the obvious choices Traditionally, community college, career and technical education, and even the National Science Foundation focus on technicians: Energy auditor Wind energy technician Insulation and weatherization technician Photovoltaics (solar electricity) installer Thermal solar installer (hot water and space heating and pool heating)

Upstream green jobs: the other jobs needed so technicians get employed Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Products Financiers and Manufacturers and Distributors and Salespeople Energy Policy Analyst and Legislators Employee in state and local energy related offices HVAC and other types of contractors with energy efficiency and renewables expertise/product line Energy Service Company (ESCO) Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Sustainability Oriented Purchasing Agent and Business VP Energy Manager Facilities Director

Partial list of green jobs: the less obvious choices? Resource Conservation/Efficiency Manager Measurement and Verification Technician Manufacturing – Product Design/Developer, Production Designer, Material Scientist, Production worker Environmental Engineering Technician Biomass Plant Designer, Manager, Technician… Utility Plant Operatives HVAC/ Building Automation Technician Controls Specialist Refuse & Recycling Worker Sustainable Agriculture: farmer, distributor, marketer… Groundwater heat pump contractor/installer Wave power system designer/installer Forestry & Wildlife Manager

Partial list of green jobs: the less obvious choices?? Hydrogen, batteries, compressed air, and other energy storage specialists Water Reservoir and watershed engineer Green Building Design Specialists: Materials Designer, Distributor, Installer … Heating/Cooling/Ventilation Scientist and Engineer, …. Electrical Technician Energy Statistician Recycling Director Environmental Maintenance Worker Greenhouse Gas Analyst/Broker…

Partial list of green jobs: the less obvious choices??? Industrial Engineer Engineering Manager Green products distribution designer/manager Sales & Marketing Staff for Sustainable Products Brownfields Real Estate Developer Sustainable Business Process Designer Corporate Recycling Manager Environmental Economist Sustainability Entrepreneur Environment, Health and Safety Director Environmental Quality Certification Specialist Geographic Information Systems Specialist

Partial list of green jobs: the less obvious choices???? Hazardous Materials Handler Sustainable Operation Manager/consultant Socially Responsible Investment Advisor Sustainability Officer Trainer/Educator for Green Jobs Sustainability Communications Fostering Sustainable Neighborhoods Community Organizer Environmental Journalist Permaculture Designer and Contractor Sustainable Landscape Architect Natural Resources Manager Sustainable Communities Planner

Partial list of green jobs: the less obvious choices????? Sustainable Development Policy Analyst Groundwater professional Restoration Ecologist Climate Change Risk Assessor and Mitigation Expert Sustainable Transportation Planner Water Pollution Control Technician Watershed Manager Wildlife Biologist Agricultural Extension Specialist Environmental Communications Specialist Environmental Conflict Manager Power Purchase Negotiator

The Pervasiveness of Green SOC listings are incomplete Every job will have a green component to it, since we all make green related decisions in all of our jobs. Doing nothing supports energy waste, toxins, food chain disruption and ecosystem destruction. Costly in dollars and in human suffering of billions - unacceptable. From green to sustainability.

Sustainability is… “ meeting the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their needs ” ~ “ Our Common Future, ” United Nations Brundtland Report, 1987

Another way to think about Sustainability is: the shared responsibility for improving the quality of life for all—economically, socially, and environmentally— now and for future generations.

Strong Economy Social Well-being Flourishing Environment Sustainable Society Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability

Education for a Sustainable Society: “enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions …, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.”

Applied Knowledge/ Technological Skills Private Choices and Behaviors-Habits Public Choices and Behaviors-Laws Sustainable Communities Sustainable Economies Ecosystem

Key Government Initiatives Sustainability Summit Green Ribbon Schools!!! Including Green/Sustainability into Career Pathways for State Directors of Career and Tech Ed Funds from multiple federal agencies in energy/environment/climate change – NOAA, EPA, NSF, FIPSE… “Sustainability Improves Learning in STEM”

U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development:

Convening mainstream national leaders Catalyst their national initiatives in sustainability Communicate their efforts Build collaborative partnerships What we do and you can be part of the “we”:

Vision: Sustainable development integrated into education and learning in the United States Non ‐ partisan, multi ‐ sector partnership of over 360 registered organizations The Partnership’s current Sector Teams are: – Communities – Business – Faith Based Organizations – Higher Education – K-12 and Teacher Education – Youth

Higher education is taking a leadership role to prepare students and provide the information, skills and knowledge to achieve a sustainable society. What does it look like? (The following slide can also be a guideline for who is on your sustainability committee.)

For higher education, sustainability and green is being integrated into: Curricula Research Operations Community Outreach and Partnerships Student Life Professional Development Mission and Planning Purchasing public awareness legislation Thanks to Wynn Calder for this diagram

KEY THRUST – KEY OUTCOME 21 st century learning outcomes require sustainability perspectives and skills Students, staff and community members know how to and choose to be more environmentally, socially and economically responsible. Where? In the personal, career, community and governmental spheres.

Why is it such a high priority? 1.Much of the public doesn’t know that we are exceeding the carrying capacity of the planet. ( 2.Public doesn’t know we can reduce human suffering and environmental degradation now while building stronger economies 3.Core pedagogy. Education to action is the key. Catalyzing sustainable communities as academic assignments.

life supporting resources declining consumption of life supporting resources rising In higher education, we focus on the problems and engage students and the community in building solutions

Committed to the advancement of sustainability throughout higher education

AACC American Association of Community Colleges AASCU American Association of State Colleges & Universities AASHE Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ACPA College Student Educators International ACUHO-I Association of College & University Housing Officers International APPA Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers CCCU Council of Christian Colleges & Universities NACUBO National Association of College & University Business Officers NAEP National Association of Educational Procurement NAICU National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities NIRSA National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association

Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium Professional Associations for: 1.Presidents 2.Academic Officers 3.Student Affairs 4.Campus Activities 5.Facilities 6.Business Officers 7.Planners 8.Recreation Directors 9.Purchasers 10.More….. All Working on Sustainability

HEASC Resource Center - Socially, economically and environmentally responsible procurement, operations, planning, leadership, learning outcomes and more!!HEASC Resource Center Resources

DANS – the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability -

DANS – the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability – Participating Associations American Psychological Association Sociology Religion Philosophy Math Broadcasting Architecture Engineering (civil, mechanical, eng. ed.) Business Ecological Economics Chemistry Biology American Association for the Advancement of Science Computer Research Humanities STEM disciplines Political Science Anthropology More…

Academic Disciplines and U. S. Partnership created DANS Infusing green/sustainability into: 1.Curricula, including textbooks 2.Promotion and tenure and accreditation 3.Informing legislation and policy 4.Informing the public 5.Professional identity as an academic 6.Grant received from U.S. Dept of Ed Click on “Resources” at - scroll down the page!!!

Student Learning Outcomes ACPA President’s Sustainability Taskforce, 2006 – College Student Educators International 1.Each student will be able to define sustainability. 2.Each student will be able to explain how sustainability relates to their lives and their values, and how their actions impact issues of sustainability. 3.Each student will be able to utilize their knowledge of sustainability to change their daily habits and consumer mentality. 4. Each student will be able to explain how systems are interrelated.

Student Learning Outcomes (cont.) ACPA President’s Sustainability Taskforce, Each student will learn change agent skills. 6.Each student will learn how to apply concepts of sustainability to their campus and community by engaging in the challenges and solutions of sustainability on their campus. 7.Each student will learn how to apply concepts of sustainability globally by engaging in the challenges and the solutions of sustainability in a world context. These outcomes match international declarations and other countries’ learning outcomes … Svanström, Lozano-G, Rowe (2008) “Learning outcomes for sustainable development in higher education”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education; Volume: 9 Issue: 3; 2008 International Journal of Sustainability in Higher EducationIssue: 3

Essential instructional approach – real world problem solving for sustainability 1.All of us engaged as effective change agents* to create a sustainable future –include as professional/personal development focus 2.Campus/school as a living lab and open to the public – use the media 3.Catalyze movement from apathy/fearful/obedient caring, effective involvement (healthy self- concepts & emotional/interpersonal intelligence) 4.Sustainability literacy and engagement in solutions for all students – 21 st century core competency – in all jobs * Change agent skills list -

We Offer Professional Development You have five minutes: Faculty - Take a big idea you have to teach in your course and a big sustainability idea. Create a learning activity that includes both. Everyone else - Take your job activities and/or your daily activities and think about how you can make them more sustainability oriented in your behaviors, the normal practices or the policies in the institution. Describe the actions you can choose to help build a culture of sustainability. Now share in the large group! Thanks to Jean MacGregor at Evergreen for this idea.

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Climate Leadership in Higher Education Over 650 presidents in all 50 states

Resources from the ACUPCC to make us literate about our challenges and engaged in solutions Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability – very good!!Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability Energy Performance Contracting Toolkit ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol ACUPCC Climate Action Planning Wiki ACUPCC Reporting Tool ACUPCC Implementation Guide ACUPCC GHG Inventory Brief ACUPCC Webinar Series ACUPCC Solutions Page (includes links to further resources)ACUPCC Solutions Page

Three more Key Sites about activities 1.U.S. - Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education – Sign up for the free bulletin and search the extensive resources and share what you are doing, STARSwww.aashe.org 2.World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics International Sustainability Group sharing curricula and other resources - International Sustainability Grouphttp://wfcp.accc.ca/ 3.American Association of Community Colleges and its members colleges – a leader in greening the curricula and the community – visit their Sustainability Education and Economic Development Resource Center at

Resources on: curricula, college success stories, components (genome) of a quality green program, industry standards and certifications, competencies, community partnerships Sectors: Solar, Wind, Green Building, Energy Efficiency, Agriculture, Transportation, Sustainability 40

AACC’s SEED Policy Action Plan Toolkit! » org/Resources/SEED- Resources/SEED- Toolkits/AACC-s-SEED- Green-Action-Plan-Serieshttp:// org/Resources/SEED- Resources/SEED- Toolkits/AACC-s-SEED- Green-Action-Plan-Series 41

Community of Action: Policy and Civic Engagement to Grow Green Jobs and Sustainable Communities ecoAmerica start with people

K-12 & Teacher Education Sector 2012 Priorities Standards & Assessment - NASDCTEC International Connections Webinar/National Education for Sustainability Week K-12 National Organizations Network Sustainability Fellows Teacher Education Policy Resource sharing and community building via Website and Listserv –

K-12 educational trends – links for your site Sustainability Standards – national, from under K-12 (and integrated into other standards) Environmental literacy curricular plans in 40 states K-12 National Associations Network for Sustainability, including NSTA, NCSS, ACTE, AASA (teachers of science, social studies, technical ed, superintendents)

Education for Sustainability National Standards – Version 3.0 Students: 1: Understand and are able to apply the basic concepts and principles of sustainability. 2: Recognize the concept of sustainability as a dynamic condition characterized by the interdependency among ecological, economic, and social systems and how these interconnected systems affect individual and societal well-being. Develop an understanding of the human connection to and interdependence with the natural world. 3: Develop a multidisciplinary approach to learning the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to continuously improve the health and well-being of present and future generations, via both personal and collective decisions and actions.

Table 1: EfS Grade Band Concepts – Summary Chart Component K (Building on topics and areas of study in K-4) 9-12 (Building on topics and areas of study in 5-8) 1.1 Intergenerational Responsibility  Family  Generations (grandparents, parents, children)  Responsibility to Future Generations  Intergenerational Equity 2.1 Interconnectedness  Relationships  Historical Connections  Sense of Place  Systems  Interdependency  Systems Thinking  Cradle-to-Cradle Design 2.2 Ecological Systems  Connection to Nature  Plants, Animals, Habitats  Natural Resources (renewable & non- renewable)  Biodiversity  Ecosystems  Ecological Footprint (including Carbon Footprint)  Carrying Capacity  Environmental Stewardship  Nature as Model and Teacher  Respect for Limits  Respect for Nature  Tragedy of the Commons  Environmental Justice  Biomimicry  Urban Design/Land Management  Natural Capital 2.3 Economic Systems  Human Needs and Wants (food, water, energy, shelter)  Equity  Resource Scarcity  Energy Economics  Ecological Economics  Food Systems  Poverty  Ecosystem Services  Alternative Indicators and Indexes of Progress  Globalization  True (or Full) Cost Accounting  Triple Bottom Line  Micro Credit 2.4 Social and Cultural Systems  Family and Friends  Personal Identity  Happiness  Fairness  Collaborative Learning  Cultural Diversity  Multiple Perspectives  Citizenship  Resource Distribution  Population Growth  Quality of Life Indicators  Education  Human Rights  Social Justice  Peace and Conflict  Multilateral Organizations  International Summits, Conferences, Conventions, and Treaties  Global Health  Appropriate Technology  Governance 3.1 Personal Action  Setting Goals  Communicating Ideas  Making a Difference  Personal Responsibility  Personal Footprint Calculation  Critical Thinking  Problem Solving  Project Planning and Action  Accountability  Lifelong Learning and Action  Personal Change Skills and Strategies 3.2 Collective Action  Setting Goals  Working Together  Designing a Sustainable System  Structural vs. Personal Solutions  Democracy  Societal Footprint Calculation  Local, State, and National Sustainability Plans  Local to Global Responsibility  Community-Based and Societal Level Decision-Making  Public Discourse and Policy  Organizational and Societal Change Skills and Strategies EfS Standards - Grade Band Concepts

International Connections Building Connections and Networks with International Partners (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India, China, Scotland, and Sweden…)

Teacher Education Work with Universities and Colleges of Teacher Education to promote Education for Sustainability pedagogy and content Special interest group with the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Develop a network of the Universities and Colleges of Teacher Education Document case studies of programs engaged in ESD

Active Sustainability Efforts can create: Multi pronged approach to change Nurture sustainability champions Think and act systemically We can assist you!! – Strategies, resources, and ABCs of celebration and preventing burnout SISBRO

Key Actions: 1. Colleges and schools are the neutral high credibility source for the public – working with your government offices, non- profits and businesses to collaborate and to take action. 2. Convene sustainability partnerships, community forums, community education, etc. to catalyze entrepreneurship, and organizational and government policies that will build a sustainable economy! Include pathways out of poverty, discussions on quality of life and even happiness research. (Look at community resources at ) Economics as if people mattered!!!! Sustainable living community plans, roadshow, support group, celebration.

Help to create systemic change! Thousands of schools and colleges are: 1.Teaching green specific courses, certificates and degrees: renewable energies, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, green in transportation, water, manufacturing, etc. and into all technical programs 2.Teaching sustainability specific courses in hundreds of schools, colleges and universities and integrating sustainability into thousands of existing courses, 3.Integrating sustainability into educational core for students in all degrees 4.Educating and catalyzing the employers and the public to be more sustainable

Congratulations for all you have done. Congratulations for all you will do in the future. Let your enthusiasm show – welcome others to join in! You have a unique and important role… For more information, contact Debra Rowe at