WEEC 2013Plenary Session: The education

pillar of ecological transition

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE): Promoting Sustainable Development through

Environmental Education worldwide

Jan Eriksen, President of FEE

Foundation for Environmental Education

• Non-profit, non-government organisation established in 1981 out of a UN Conference

• Promoting sustainable development through environmental education worldwide

• Umbrella organisation with normally one member organisation in each country– 4 member organisations in 4 countries in 1981– 77 member organisations in 65 countries in 2013

• Five environmental education programmes

Countries with FEE member organisations

South Africa

6 countries inthe Caribbean

36 countries in EuropeCanada

New Zealand

Morocco

Kenya

JapanKazakhstan

Brazil

TunisiaChina

Russia

JordanUAE

USAIran

Mongolia

Uganda

Malaysia

Israel

SingaporeIndia

Mexico

Eco-Schools

• Fun, action orientated 7-step ‘change’ process

• Student-led Eco-School committees • Embedded in curriculum learning• Through themes such as Energy,

Water, Waste, and Climate Change • Using real life situations; • Resulting in:

– Eco-certification for a Green Flag– Development of leadership capacity– Lowering environmental footprints– Life-long learning for a sustainable world

Eco-Schools

Involved in 2013• Students > 18m• Teachers > 600000• Schools > 40000• Awarded > 14000• Local Govt > 5000 • Countries: 54

Eco-Schools

• Cork University in Ireland becomes a ‘Green Campus’ (€730,000 saved in waste management fees)

• 75% of girls in Uganda Eco-School now stay in education after the installation of sanitary facilities

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE)

• Youth-led environmental journalism in more than 25 countries

• Students aged 11-21:– Investigate a local issue– Create a production –

written, photographic or video, where possible suggesting a solution

– Disseminate to a local audience

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE)

• Students connect through websites, social media and missions

• Annual competition judged by UNEP, EEA, UNESCO, IIEEE and a journalist from The Times

Learning about Forests (LEAF)

• Teachers to use the forest for educational activities

• Learning about forests, from forests, in forests

• International networking between countries

• Sharing of teaching materials across borders that can be adapted locally

Encouraging:

Learning about Forests (LEAF)

• Links with partner initiatives such as UN Year of Forests 2011 and UN Decade for Biodiversity until 2020

• Programme reflects all functions forests fulfil for people:

– cultural – ecological– economical– social

Blue Flag

• Oldest eco-label for beaches and marinas in the world – celebrates 25 years in 2012

• Voluntary award given one season at a time

• Four areas of criteria:– Environmental Education and

Information– Environmental Management– Water Quality– Safety and Services

Blue Flag

• Running in 48 countries• More than 3850 sites

awarded in 2013• Application approved by

National and International Jury

• Individual Blue Flag for Boat owners at marinas

• Blue Flag iPhone app

Green Key

• Fastest growing ecolabel for tourism facilities globally– Hotels and hotel chains– Conference centres– Hostels– Campsites– Small accommodations

• Award given one year at a time• Standard international criteria and

specialized national criteria

Green Key

• Water• Waste• Energy• Chemical use• Food and

beverages

• Guest involvement/awareness• Environmental management• Staff involvement• Open spaces• Climate Change

2100 establishments in 30 countries. Individual hotels and international chains such as Starwood, Rezidor

FEE International Partners include

UNEP

UNWTO

UNESCO

ISESCO

FEE’s Global Forest Fund

• FEE has established a CO2 offset system

• For its own trips but also offered to companies and individuals online

• Administered by LEAF• Tree planting at schools

together with environmental education activities

• Cooperation with Panasonic: product one tree

More information about FEE and its five programmes can be found at:

www.fee-international.org