The European Commission calls for environmental sustainability to take a central place in EU education and training systems

This proposal aims to help Member States, schools and institutes, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations and all those offering training to equip learners with knowledge and skills on sustainability, climate change and the environment.

The Commission has published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on learning for environmental sustainability. This proposal aims to help Member States, schools and institutes, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations and all those offering training to equip learners with knowledge and skills on sustainability, climate change and the environment. A new European sustainability competence framework published by the Joint Research Centre has also been unveiled, outlining the skills needed for the ecological transition, such as critical thinking, initiative-taking, respect for nature and understanding the impact of everyday actions and decisions on the environment and climate around the world.

Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President for promoting our European Way of Life, said: “Young people’s participation in environmental issues has revolutionised the way we view climate and the environment. Through our youth programmes, such as the European Solidarity Corps and DiscoverEU, we promote our young people’s sustainability efforts. This is another step in the work we have undertaken to ensure that sustainability is better integrated into education.”

Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel added: “Impressive work is being done across Europe to help children, young people and adults learn about climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability, and engage with these issues. We aim to build on these efforts and work closely with Member States to make sustainability a central theme of education and training systems. All students, from an early age, must have the possibility to understand the implications of environmental sustainability and to act accordingly to protect our planet and our future.”

The Commission’s proposal calls on Member States to:

• Enable students of all ages to enjoy inclusive, high-quality education and training on climate change, biodiversity and sustainability;

• Prioritise the acquisition of knowledge on environmental sustainability in education and training policies and programmes to help this sector and enable it to contribute to the ecological transition;

• Adopt and support sustainability approaches in all areas of educational institutions that cover teaching and learning and that contribute to developing visions, planning and governance with sustainability overtones; integrate the active participation of students and staff in this area; to make sustainability part of the management of buildings and resources, and to activate partnerships with local and wider communities in this regard;

• Mobilise EU and national funds for investment in sustainable and green infrastructure, training, tools and resources, with a view to making education and training more resilient and ready for the green transition.

On the occasion of a Eurobarometer survey, when respondents were asked what the EU’s top priorities should be in the coming years, young people put environmental protection and the fight against climate change first (67%), followed by improving education and training (56%). It is therefore time to act.

The Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme also places special emphasis on the ecological transition in education and training. For the 2022 annual work programme, priority will be given to projects from schools that develop green competences and capacities, and that offer future-oriented curricula and planned approaches to sustainability. A dedicated call for large-scale projects will provide funding to identify, develop and test innovative approaches to environmental sustainability education. The Commission will also offer training opportunities and communities of practice to educators through the School Education Gateway portal and the eTwinning community. On the Commission’s new European Education Area portal, it is easy to find information on education and training in the EU, including specific information on green education.

Source: Co-responsible