Educating Students, Teachers, and Learners on Sustainability

By Nina Benoit in conversation with Antonio Vizcaya Abdo

As we grapple with existential environmental and social challenges, the link between sustainability and education is increasingly clear and vital. These challenges are monumental, with significant educational gaps that need to be addressed by both individuals and educators.

This article and interview delves into the intertwined roles of sustainability in education, reflecting on insights from Antonio Vizcaya Abdo, Professor in Sustainability at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and Transformative Professor at Ashoka.

The Role of Education in Addressing Environmental and Social Issues

Education is a critical tool for addressing environmental and social issues by shaping the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of society's future leaders and participants. It's also pivotal in igniting both collective and individual action towards sustainability. Education lays a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of sustainability, prompting individuals to analyze the impact of their actions and to innovate solutions for the future.

Similarly, in the workplace, even basic sustainability education can help employees and decision-makers approach their jobs differently, from considering energy and raw materials consumption to company policies and practices.

Education’s role also extends beyond informing and inspiring; it actively encourages and empowers students to take meaningful action. By fostering a mindset that values and preserves natural resources, promotes social equity, and supports economic sustainability, education ensures a balanced approach to human development and environmental conservation. It's a key driver in mobilizing society to embrace practices that benefit both the environment and the broader community.

How to Address Sustainability in the Classroom?

According to Professor Vizcaya Abdo, sustainability courses should extend beyond the technicalities of environmental and social science and explore the crucial role of businesses in promoting sustainable development and regeneration. He emphasizes a practical approach:

"Instead of going through a very technical level on sustainability, what we want to do in class is to understand how actually, businesses can take part in solving social and environmental problems."

This approach underscores the importance of the triple bottom line—a framework that encourages businesses to commit not only to profit but also to people and the planet, balancing financial growth with social equity and environmental stewardship. Businesses can be part of the solution from the very start.?

Furthermore, Professor Vizcaya Abdo stresses the importance of experiential learning and real-world examples:

“I think that putting students in front of entrepreneurs and business leaders is super important for them to be able to engage with them and explain how they put sustainability into action.”

By doing so, students can get valuable insights from leaders who have successfully integrated sustainable practices, thereby equipping them with the knowledge and inspiration needed to drive change within their own spheres of influence.

The power of real-life examples in education should never be underestimated, especially when it comes to motivating students to engage with environmental and social issues. Inviting purpose-driven leaders into the classroom to share their experiences and insights can have a profound impact. These change-makers, with their stories of challenges and triumphs, serve as living proof of the difference one individual can make. They not only provide practical, real-world context to theoretical knowledge but also inspire students by demonstrating the potential for true impact in their chosen fields.?

“If, by the end of the semester, students remember and are influenced by even just a few of these presentations, it signifies a significant victory. These encounters sow seeds of inspiration and motivation, potentially shaping the future actions and mindsets of the students.”

Equipping Educators to Teach Sustainability

Providing educators with the right tools to teach sustainability is essential for impactful learning. Organizations like Ashoka are at the forefront of this mission, striving to transform the educational landscape by empowering teachers and learners to become proactive problem solvers. Professor Vizcaya Abdo echoes this mission, saying, "What Ashoka wants to do is to empower people in the world to be able to deliver a positive impact." This approach is about building a network of change makers who are equipped to tackle societal and environmental challenges head-on.

“By fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation, Ashoka is effectively laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and equitable future, one educator at a time.”

Another example of an organization committed to spreading knowledge on sustainability is the Climate Fresk. Their workshops offer an interactive and collaborative tool to educate people about climate change. This science-based workshop simplifies the complex workings of climate change into a coherent and understandable format, facilitating knowledge-sharing and dialogue. By engaging with the Climate Fresk, educators can instill a deeper understanding of environmental issues among students and encourage critical thinking and solutions-oriented discussions. In doing so, they contribute to a more informed and empowered generation ready to face and address the pressing challenges of our time.

“As educators, it is essential to remain attentive and open to new methodologies and techniques that can enhance and accelerate our teaching and learning processes. The landscape of education is constantly evolving, with innovative approaches emerging that can make learning more effective, engaging, and relevant. Staying informed about these advancements allows us to adapt our teaching strategies to better meet the needs of our students and the demands of the modern world.”?

Available Resources for Sustainability Learning

For those eager to delve into sustainability, there are a multitude of resources available. Below are a few options of resources you can access to:

1. Online Courses and MOOCs: Websites like Coursera, edX offer a variety of courses on topics ranging from climate science to corporate sustainability, often developed by leading universities and institutions.?
2. Workshops: Ashoka and Climate Fresk workshops foster collaborative and interactive learning about the complex system of climate change and the multifaceted solutions required to address it.
3. Books and Literature: Books are a great source of information to learn about sustainability. Professor Vizcaya Abdo recommends reading “Re generation - Ending the climate crisis in one generation”.?
4. Documentaries: You can also find multiple documentaries on the topic of sustainability. A great documentary is Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet
5. Community Involvement: Local NGOs often host events and initiatives that allow individuals to engage with sustainability efforts on a community level. One example is Terra.do who regularly hosts sustainability events.
6. Newsletters and Blogs: In addition to this newsletter, at Brightest we also publish a range of sustainability articles and guides designed to help learners at various steps of their sustainability journey. Newsletters and blogs from knowledgeable practitioners, industry organizations, and thoughtful, sustainability-focused media companies can also be a great learning resource.

Closing Thoughts: Education as a Catalyst for Sustainable Action

Sustainability education is an immensely powerful tool for catalyzing both individual and collective action aimed at nurturing the well-being of our planet and its people. The urgency of today's environmental and social challenges demands not only immediate but also systemic responses, an arena where sustainability education really shines at promoting awareness.

By integrating sustainability more holistically into educational frameworks, we empower learners to move beyond awareness to meaningful action. This approach is vital in closing the action gap, equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to contribute to a sustainable future.

Through sustainability education, we are not just informing minds, but inspiring hearts and hands to work towards a more equitable, sustainable world for everyone.

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