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Table of Contents
Overview
Barbados is a small-island nation in the Caribbean that is vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, while also having an economy that is dependent on tourism, therefore protecting the environment is a priority for the nation, with environmental education a key strategy. Given Barbados' geographical context, marine and coastal environmental education is particularly important. Barbados is part of multilateral and regional initiatives to advance environmental education, including with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Environmental Training Network of Latin America and the Caribbean initiative.
Policy & Practice
National Policy
One of the goals of the National Strategic Plan of Barbados is “Building a Green Economy -- Strengthening the Physical Infrastructure and Preserving the Environment”. One of the strategies for accomplishing this goal is promoting public education and awareness of environmental management, while promoting linkages between the environment and overall wellbeing. Barbados’ National Sustainable Development Policy includes education and training as a priority and provides several policy recommendations for conducting public education and awareness programmes on issues such as water conservation, sustainable cultivation practices, biodiversity, and renewable energy.
EE in K-12 Education
At the primary school level, environmental education is integrated in subjects such as Social Studies, Science, and Health and Family life. Key initiatives to further integrate environmental education in the curriculum include a curriculum guide developed by UNESCO for the Caribbean region countries. At the secondary school level, environmental education is offered as a standalone subject of Environmental Science and is one of the subjects examined by the Caribbean Examinations Council.
Professional Development
Professional development opportunities for environmental educators in Barbados include those offered as part of multilateral and regional initiatives. Barbados is part of a forum of Ministers for the Environment which initiated a project called “Caribbean Environmental Education and Training Project: Capacity-building for Environmental Education”, in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other other partners. Activities of this project included teacher training initiatives and development of curriculum modules to be used in universities and teacher training colleges.
Leadership
National Associations
Barbados is part of the Environmental Training Network of Latin America and the Caribbean, an intergovernmental platform dedicated to strengthening the environmental education process, cooperation, training, and south-south cooperation.
EE in National Government
The Environmental Protection Department has a mandate to promote environmental education and awareness. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Beautification's mission includes sensitizing and educating the public about environmental management and integrating sustainability into national development.
National EE Campaigns and Funding
An innovative way for funding environmental education in Barbados is through a debt for nature conversion transaction, whereby savings from debt conversions are invested in environmental initiatives. The Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund (BESF) was established from a debt for nature transaction and it supports environmental education projects as part of its grantmaking. As an example, the Barbados Marine Spatial plan, a BESF funded initiative, included a marine environmental education component which ran an ocean literacy program in schools, engaging students and teachers.
The Barbados Environment Conservation Trust (BECT) is a local charity that funds environmental projects and campaigns that include community engagement and education across areas such as marine conservation, biodiversity, and waste management.
- Organizations
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Beautification
https://www.gov.bb/Ministries/environment
Environmental Protection Department
The Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund
The Caribbean Youth Environment Network
The Future Centre Trust
https://www.futurecentretrust.org/
The Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research and Design
Country Map