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

2. Part I What is education for a green and sustainable future?
Part II What are our sustainability challenges?
Part III National Trends
Part IV Solutions and Resources for you!

3. Sustainable Development is often defined as:
“meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to
meet their own needs”
World Commission on Env. and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press.

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

5. 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.”

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

7. Part I What is education for a green and sustainable future?
Part II What are our sustainability challenges and solutions?
Part III National Trends
Part IV Solutions and Resources for you!

8. Why is environmental responsibility such a high priority?
Freshwater withdrawal has almost doubled since 1960 and nearly half the world’s major rivers are going dry or are badly polluted (New Internationalist, no. 329)
11 of the world’s 15 major fishing areas and 69% of the world’s major fish species are in decline (State of the World, Worldwatch Institute)
Climate change (global warming) exists, a major culprit is fossil fuels, and impacts are very serious. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change)

9. Slide #4 The Greenhouse Effect
Our planet’s atmosphere traps heat much like a garden greenhouse does.
Sunlight enters the greenhouse (atmosphere) and warms the soil, plants, and ocean (earth).
About 30 percent of the sun’s energy is reflected back into space. But the remainder is absorbed by “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere and earth’s surface, where it helps warm the planet.
The earth radiates heat back to the atmosphere, where it is absorbed by “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide and methane. This further warms the earth.
But some of the energy is emitted back into space. This prevents the planet from overheating.
This “greenhouse effect” is a natural phenomenon that makes our planet warm enough to be livable.
Without it, our planet would be 60 degrees Fahrenheit colder than it is today. 4

10. Effects -Climate Change
Disruption of food production and the food chain
More extreme weather events
Disruptions of ecosystems, including water supplies
Spread of disease e.g. West Nile, Malaria, Dengue Fever
Submersion of land masses –
sea level rise
50% of world’s population lives on the coasts
= Civilization Disruption and National Security Threat
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, NASA, Pentagon, and National Defense University

11. Why is Climate Change Important?
It is outside of the normal variability of climate.
We are the first generation capable of determining the habitability of the planet for humans and other species.
The decisions now are crucial. 

12. Why environmental Issues are so important
Our decisions will create:
more scarcity and suffering, or a future of greater abundance and higher quality of life

13. declining rising life supporting resources consumption of
Global Perspective
life supporting resources
declining
consumption of
life supporting resources
rising

14. Why is EFS such a high priority?
Much of the public doesn’t know that we are exceeding the carrying capacity of the planet. (
Public doesn’t know we can reduce human suffering and environmental degradation now while building stronger economies
A rapid shift in mindset is needed and education to action is the key.

15. Global Transition – Paradigm Shift Not a list, a more accurate understanding and a lens for all we do
From
Carbon pollution powered
Take, make, waste
Living off nature’s capital
Market as master
Loss of cultural & biological diversity
Independence
Materialism as goal To
Non-polluting powered
Cyclical production
Living off nature’s income
Market as servant
Maintain cultural & biological diversity
Interdependence
Reduced human suffering and higher quality of life goal
This is the fundamental transition that society must make. Solar powered means all renewable energy which derives from “current” solar income. These changes imply that a deep cultural change is needed and that higher education is one critical leverage point in this change.
Thanks to Tony Cortese for this slide

16. Part I What are green jobs?
Part II What is education for a green and sustainable future?
Part III What are our sustainability challenges and solutions?
Part IV National Trends
Part V Solutions and Resources for you!

17. Read Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
by Lester Brown, founder of Worldwatch Institute
Explains how to get to sustainable clean energy solutions, sustainable practices and policies, poverty reduction, and economic health, and what each of us can/needs to do
Downloadable at
Great sections to include in any course – actions near the end

18. We need engagement in sustainability solutions for all students and the public
Examples of what should/could be the norm:
Incredible potentials for renewable energies, and conservation which keeps the money in the community
Benefits of sustainability:
Saves Money and builds college and community economic health, Improve Physical Health, Reduce Financial Risk, Improve Quality of Life
Sustainable Manufacturing Opportunities
Financing and investment for green and sustainable will reap the economic and other rewards
Transition Towns
Sustainable Eau Clair -

19. KEY THRUST – KEY OUTCOME
21st 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.

20. Part I What are green jobs?
Part II What is education for a green and sustainable future?
Part III What are our sustainability challenges and solutions?
Part IV National Trends
Part V Solutions and Resources for you!

21. U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development:
Convene, Catalyze and Communicate
Sector Teams: Business, Higher Education,
K-12, Communities, Faith, Youth…

22. www.uspartnership.org Join for free and use the extensive resources

23. Business principles of sustainability:
Cradle to Cradle (McDonough)
Biomimicry (Benyas – Like nature, efficient and not toxic)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (
Natural Step (Sweden and U.S.)
Natural Capitalism (Lovins, Harvard Business Review)
More accurate economic indicators and markets – Hazel Henderson

24. Trends in sectors – some examples
Business – LOHAS - Japan, SOL Sustainability Consortium, Businesses for Social Responsibility, Shareholders, Investors (e.g. Swiss RE)
Communities - Mayors Climate Protection and Smart Growth, Sustainable Communities Partnerships, Coalitions, Community Planning
K-12 – U.S. Summit and collaboration, national webinars and resources
Faith - Religious Partnership and Interfaith Alliance, Regeneration Project
Youth –Action Campaigns: Powershift, 350.org, National Teach-in…

25. Higher education is taking a leadership role to prepare students and provide the information and knowledge to achieve a sustainable society.
What does it look like?

26. For higher education, Sustainable Development is being integrated into:
legislation
public awareness
Curricula
Research
Mission and
Planning
Operations
Purchasing
What if higher education were to take a leadership role, as it did in the space race and the war on cancer, in preparing students and providing the information and knowledge to achieve a just and sustainable society? What would higher education look like? The education of all professionals would reflect a new approach to learning and practice.  A college or university would operate as a fully integrated community that models social and biological sustainability itself and in its interdependence with the local, regional and global community.  The educational experience of students is a function of what they are taught, how they are taught, the way in which the university manages, conducts research, operates, purchases, designs facilities, invests and interacts with local communities.  In many cases, we think of teaching, research, operations and relations with local communities as separate activities; they are not.  All parts of the university are critical in helping to create transformative change in the individual and collective mindset.  Everything that happens at a university and every impact, positive and negative, of university activities shape the knowledge, skills and values of the students.  Future education must connect head, heart and hand
Community Outreach and
Partnerships
Professional Development
Student Life

27. Internationally, a taste…
In Sweden, it is a law that all undergraduates be educated about sustainability
High priority in higher education principles in European Union
U.N. Decade and other ESD international conferences in Mexico, Bonn Declaration
Earth Charter in Costa Rica – vision
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Global Sustainability Group out of MIT
Japanese campaign for sustainable living as patriotism

28. GREAT NEWS. Growing National Trend in U. S
GREAT NEWS!!! Growing National Trend in U.S.: Over seventeen national HE associations and twenty national disciplinary associations are creating initiatives on Education for Green and Sustainable

29. Publicizing & Celebrating your Programs
Supporting & Promoting Cross Association initiatives
Supporting & Promoting your involvement in the ACUPCC
Supporting the Development of your Capacity
Organizing for Federal support for HE sustainability initiatives-HESA/EISA
Providing Individual Support for Several Members
through a resource rich website, a bi-monthly digest, and numerous presentations
institutes, conferences, publications, and webcasts
-by framing sessions for your conf/meetings and providing resources
Support for publications
Identifying speakers and resources
Committed to the advancement of sustainability throughout higher education

30. AACC American Association of Community Colleges
AASCU American Association of State Colleges & Universities
AASHE Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
ACCED-I Association of Collegiate Conference & Events Directors - International
ACE American Council on Education
ACPA College Student Educators International
ACUHO-I Association of College & University Housing Officers International
AGB Association of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges
APPA Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers
CCCU Council of Christian Colleges & Universities
NACA National Association for Campus Activities
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
SCUP Society for College & University Planning

31. Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium www. aashe
Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium
Presidents
Academic Officers
Student Affairs
Trustees
Campus Activities
Facilities
Business Officers
Planners
Events Directors
Recreation Directors
Purchasers
More….. On campus Sustainability Committees

32. Resources Higher Education Sustainability Fellows Programs
HEASC News Digest and shared publications
HEASC Resource Center - Socially, economically and environmentally responsible procurement, operations, planning, leadership, learning outcomes and more!!
Media Strategies for Sustainability
Informing Legislation
ACPA- Jeanne Steffes and Lyndsay Agans - University of Denver.
Scaled up renewable energy strategies
Curricular toolkit for college and university presidents

33. American Psychological Association Sociology Religion Philosophy Math
DANS – the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability - click on Resources Include this in all disciplines and gen ed
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…

34. Academic Disciplines and U. S. Partnership created DANS
Infusing green/sustainability into:
Curricula, including textbooks
Promotion and tenure and accreditation
Informing legislation and policy
Informing the public
Professional identity as an academic
See the resources at
Include sustainability in your courses. Request it for all degrees and certificates and in gen ed core!!!

35. The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
The ACUPCC is a high-visibility, collective and individual commitment to address climate disruption through actions to reduce and eventually neutralize ghg emissions, and to develop the capability of students to help all of society do the same.
Governance
The ACUPCC is governed by a 23-member Steering Committee co-chaired by Michael Crow, President of Arizona State, David Shi, President of Furman University and Martha Kanter, chancellor of the Foothill-Dyanza Community College District in Northern California, the newly appointed Undersecretary of Education for higher education.
Climate Leadership in Higher Education
Over 650 presidents in all 50 states

36. Resources (for presidents, students and you!)
Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability – very good!!
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)
Second Nature is the primary supporting organization of the ACUPCC – AASHE, and EcoAmerica also provide support. Second Nature and the ACUPCC – are actively working with several other higher education associations (e.g, NACUBO, APPA, NAICU) and organizations like Clean Air-Cool Planet on strategies to support the signatories and all of higher education to make the rapid transition to making sustainability the lens through which higher education measures success. Here are some of the major outputs to date (see *
* A guidance document on strategies for making sustainability a foundation of all education
* A toolkit on energy performance contracting for energy saving building retrofits
* A carbon offset protocol to assist colleges and universities in deciding if, when and how to utilize carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint
• And a climate action planning wiki website and reporting tool
2009 Climate Leadership Summit will be held in Chicago, IL this August

37. So many examples at so many colleges!
Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education AASHE (AY-shee)
Sign up for the free bulletin
Search the extensive resources and the digest
Join as an institution

38. HE Sustainability Examples more at www.aashe.org Annual Digest
Systemic integration
Georgia Tech
University of North Carolina
Arizona State
Moraine Valley Community College
Lane Community College….
Transportation
UC Boulder
Many community colleges

39. HE Sustainability Examples more at www.aashe.org Annual Digest
Green Computing
League for Innovation (comm. colleges)
Educause
Food
Marshalltown CC Organic Garden
Yale
Institutionalization in job descriptions and performance reviews
From Cornell to Lane CC to ASU

40. HE Sustainability Examples more at www.aashe.org Annual Digest
Energy Conservation, Renewable Energies & Climate Change – Modeling solutions
Over 400 greenhouse gas inventories completed
University of Minnesota Morris – wind power and biomass
Turtle Mtn CC - wind
At least 11 campuses installed or announced plans to install more than 1 MW each of solar energy in , including Contra Costa Community College District (CA)
Many more!

41. HE Sustainability Examples more at www.aashe.org Annual Digest
Green Building
Built into all bid requests
So many examples, from Maricopa colleges…
Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
Rutgers, Stanford, OCC
Waste Minimization
400 colleges in RecycleMania

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

43. Student Learning Outcomes (cont
Student Learning Outcomes (cont.) ACPA President’s Sustainability Taskforce, 2006
Each student will learn change agent skills.
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.
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 KK

44. Making a positive change
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.

45. Sustainability Learning Outcomes for all students
Curricula – Systemic Change, not a fad more examples at Annual Digest and
Sustainability Learning Outcomes for all students
Miami Dade, Some of the Maricopa, Oakland Community Colleges… – learning outcomes in general education
Univ. of Wisconsin – Oshkosh – essential learning outcome
Arizona State University – required for all students
650 colleges in the ACUPCC – part of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment
S in the schedule and recognition for graduation/transcript
Positive scenarios and futures fairs (description at DANS website)
Core pedagogy – real world project based learning!

46. Curricular Trends – national “transformation is underway in the academy.” Hundreds of colleges are:
Starting renewable energies and energy management programs, sustainable manufacturing, transportation, horticulture, etc.
Integrating sustainability principles into all technical and other disciplines,
Integrating sustainability into general education core requirements for all degrees

47. Solutions (cont.) via professional development:
All of us engaged as effective change agents* to create a sustainable future –include as professional/personal development focus
Connect the silos on campus – campus as a living lab and open to the public – use the media
Catalyze movement from apathy/fearful/obedient caring, effective involvement (healthy self-concepts & emotional/interpersonal intelligence)
Essential instructional approach – real world problem solving for sustainability (affects completion too)
Sustainability literacy and engagement for all students – a 21st century core competency – in all jobs
* Change agent skills list -

48. Key Actions beyond the norm with excellent benefits for you:
1. Colleges are the neutral high credibility source for the public – work with your state energy and social service and economic development offices, utilities, news outlets and others to motivate the public to take actions.
2. Convene sustainability partnerships, community forums, community education, etc. to catalyze entrepreneurship, and organizational and government policies that will build a healthy green and sustainable economy! Include pathways out of poverty, discussions on quality of life and happiness research
3. Reach out to associations of builders, mechanical contractors, plumbers, engineers, manufacturers, chambers of commerce, economic developmt agencies, non-profits and others to show them how to go green and sustainable
Economics as if people mattered!!!!

49. For the Public
Individuals at the college doing it and telling their stories too – posting their stories and the stories of students – e.g. MTV’s Breaking the Addiction to Oil
Sharing the links – e.g. low cost energy conservation and solar, environmentally/socially responsible purchasing and investments ( and
and

50. The lab and the campus can also be a community demonstration center for sustainability

51. Tell the stories of success and persistence.
Next Steps
Get it in your assignments, into student life activities and into the bathroom stalls. Check out Powershift, 350.org Campus Ecology, Recyclemania, Sustainability into General Education core, make up your own (ICARE – I Care About Renewable Energies)
Building healthier self-concepts. We can change society for the better.
Tell the stories of success and persistence.

52. Aids with retention and economic development
Imagine a country where all college students get credit for helping to solve our societal problems through their academic assignments.
Aids with retention and economic development
Let us know if you want your own free version

53. Key Places to Place Sustainability:
Create a college wide Sustainability Committee
Student Life
Infused throughout curricula
First Year Experience
Gen Ed Core
Curricula Review
Community Partnerships
Workforce Development
Continuing Ed and Community Events
Mission
Strategic Plan
Budget
Orientation
Campus Map and Signage
Building Policies
Operations and Purchasing Policies KK

54. Brainstorm Systemic Change
1. What additional academic and co-curricular activities would bring sustainability alive more?
2. What community partnerships would help create more models/living labs for sustainability?
How do we want to continue to structure this so we can work with each other to build the critical mass to make this happen?
Sustainability leaders come from all parts of the community and walks of life.

55. Some Educator Resources for green technician education – just a taste
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) – training and best practices
Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology (CERET) – - also NSF funded, online for faculty development, remote students and pass-through degrees
National Council for Workforce Education – examples at colleges
American Wind Energy Association – new curricular project –
AACC Green Resources at

56. www.theSeedCenter.org from the American Ass. of Comm. Colleges

57. Additional Resources for the Community
Sustainable economies/communities/master action plans
Invite key stakeholders, envision and then create a sustainable region. Resources:
Communities resources at
Transition Towns, Smart Growth Network, Community-Wealth.org
Save money and reduce pollution – get an energy audit for your home/other buildings and then weatherize, use a solar hot water heater, regularly caulk and weatherstrip, look at community renewable energies – and
Work on policy

58. Policy Resources – a Necessary Step
Resources to Engage in National Policy 
Solar Energy Industries Assn -
Solar Nation from the American Solar Energy Society
American Council on Renewable Energies –
Efficiency First -
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy -
American Wind Energy Assn smart briefs –
For updates on federal policy, sign up at

59. Challenges and Answers
Already busy
Don’t know this stuff
Putting out fires, don’t have time to do the right thing
Issues complex and systemic
Societal & environmental impacts invisible and ignored
Answers
Don’t have to know the answers. Just keep asking the sustainability questions. Don’t try to get it perfect first.
Use resources and learn from others to help you learn, grow and implement
Sustainability is everyone’s job! Doing nothing is not benign – it is destructive.
You have an important role to play. Take big steps.
Why isn’t sustainability currently a foundation of all learning and practice In higher education? Here are some of the reasons.

60. Conclusions
The public is not educated enough about the energy and sustainability issues before us.
We need sustainability literacy and engagement in solutions for ALL. Technology is part of the answer but there is more.
You are creating the future with your daily decisions.
You are in a unique and important role to help create a sustainable future. Successful precedents/materials can assist you in the sustainability path you choose as a private person, as an employee, and as a community member.
We can model and change consumption, investment, institutional and civic policies and behaviors to create a economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future.

61. The Power of What You Do
We can choose a sustainable future

62. Congratulations for all you have done.
Congratulations for all you will do in the future.
Let your enthusiasm show!
For more information, contact Debra Rowe at