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Table of Contents
Overview
Environmental education in Ireland is embedded in the primary school curriculum under Social and Environmental Education. Additionally, the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) runs the Green-Schools programme (known internationally as Eco-Schools) which partners with primary and secondary schools to provide environmental education, while the Green-Campus programme promotes environmental education at the tertiary level. Key policy initiatives and national action plans that leverage environmental education as a strategy include the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, Climate Action Plan 2021, and the Global Citizenship Education Strategy.
Policy & Practice
National Policy
Ireland has an Environmental Fund established under the Waste Management Act of 2001 whose mandate includes supporting environmental education initiatives and campaigns. Environmental education is a key element of several national policy initiatives under the umbrella of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). For example, ‘ESD to 2030: Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development’ adopted in 2022 has two priority areas related to environmental education centered on transforming the learning environment and building capacity capacities of educators. The 2021 Climate Action Plan includes a plan to develop a Green Further Education and Skills Development Plan that would equip learners with environmental awareness and green skills. At a broader societal level, Irish Aid’s Global Citizenship Education Strategy aims to mainstream ESD in its broader work on global citizenship through formal, non formal , and informal education spaces.
EE in K-12 Education
Environmental education is integrated in the primary school curriculum under the Social and Environmental Education area and is taught through History, Geography, and Science subject lens. The curriculum emphasizes social, environmental, cultural, religious, economic, and political contexts, while making connections to local and global issues. Additional curricular and experiential environmental educational learning is integrated through the Green-Schools programme, which over 93% of primary and secondary schools in Ireland participate in. The Green-Schools programme comprises themes such as energy, water,and biodiversity, with schools offering various projects across the thematic areas.
Professional Development
Environmental education is included in initial teacher training programmes at colleges of education whose training programmes are accredited with The Teaching Council, the regulatory body that sets accreditation standards. Post-teacher training professional development opportunities include a teacher and educator training programme offered through ECO-UNESCO. The Ubuntu Network supports post-initial training teachers with training in Global Citizenship Education, which includes climate change and sustainability topics. Tertial offerings include a Certificate in Environmental Sustainability in Education offered by South East Technological University and an M Ed in Education for Sustainability and Global Citizenship offered by Mary Immaculate College.
Leadership
National Associations
An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland), runs the Green-Schools (known internationally as Eco-Schools) and Green-Campus programmes. The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) is an network of environmental member organizations, many who have an environmental education component in their programming. IEN provides funding, training, advocacy, and capacity building support to member organizations.
EE in National Government
Government’s environmental initiatives, including educational and policy initiatives are housed under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The department’s communication and education efforts are mostly focused on climate, with the department’s strategic action plan including a focus on awareness, climate literacy, behavioral change and climate action.
National EE Campaigns and Funding
Ireland has an Environment Fund managed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This fund is supported by revenues from levies on plastic shopping bags and landfill waste and it is used for various environmental initiatives, including environmental education and awareness campaigns.
ECO-UNESCO is an environmental education and youth organization that works at the national level to conserve the environment while empowering young people through education and action. ECO-UNESCO’s programmes include awards, training, and youth programmes focused on environmental education. ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) is an awards program recognizing young people who raise environmental awareness and improve the environment. ECO-UNESCO also runs Youth for Sustainable Development, a program that educates and engages young people on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the non-formal education sector using a peer education approach.
- Organizations
An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) : Green-Schools, Green-Campus
https://greenschoolsireland.org/about/
https://www.greencampusireland.org/about/
Irish Environmental Network (IEN)
ECO-UNESCO
The Ubuntu Network
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-the-environment-climate-and-communications/
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