Champion Effective Practice

Science express students

Environmental education initiatives are taking place throughout the world to create change at all levels—and helping to create a more environmentally literate and civically engaged society. From focusing on issues (e.g., air pollution, water quality, loss of biodiversity, energy use, climate change and community resiliency) to engaging people in the political process to forming strategic partnerships, GEEP is looking to highlight good practices so that we can learn from each other, replicate and share learnings, and continue to advance our collective work in environmental education. 

EE in Action: Case studies of effective practice

Cultural contexts, geographies, and environmental and social issues differ; however, there is much to be learned from what is happening in environmental education around the world. The GEEP case study collection aims to share effective practice with a focus on key lessons learned that can be adapted in a variety of contexts.

EE and the SDGs

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Environmental Education (EE) plays an important role in helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs are designed to protect the planet, end poverty, address climate change, and help ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda, with specific targets to be achieved through 2030. 

EE most closely aligns with SDG 4.7: by 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.  However, EE plays an important role in building bridges between several SDGs. Strong EE programs incorporate the triple bottom line; in other words, they incorporate social, economic, and environmental issues. To learn more about EE in action as it contributes to the SDGs, search through the GEEP case study collection, which is organized according to SDG.

Global Call to Action

In October 2017, and in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Tbilisi Declaration, the GEEP launched a Call to Action to gather feedback on priorities for the field of environmental education over the next decade and beyond. To spark discussion, the GEEP identified ten potential actions environmental educators, collectively, could take to advance our shared goals. Participants demonstrated support for all 10 suggested actions, and offered a rich diversity of perspectives on what steps we might take to achieve them. We heard from a number of colleagues about an interest in marking this milestone with a pledge or commitment to build on the great work that's been done and think ahead to the future. To that end, we created the Tbilisi + 41 Pledge. We encourage everyone to sign the pledge here, and learn more about the Call to Action here.