CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development (SD) is a process for meeting human development goals while maintaining the ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend ^. Sustainable development is an approach to development that takes the finite resources of the Earth into consideration. This can mean a lot of different things to different people, but it most commonly refers to the use of renewable energy resources and sustainable agriculture or forestry practices. It also entails the use of sustainable mineral use along with many other things. The idea is to create a system that is "sustainable", meaning one that can keep going indefinitely into the future.

Sustainable development is the organizing principle for sustaining finite resources necessary to provide for the needs of future generations of life on the planet. It is a process that envisions a desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource-use continue to meet human needs . Sustainable development promotes the idea that social, environmental, and economic progress are all attainable within the limits of our earth’s natural resources.  Sustainable development approaches everything in the world as being connected through space, time and quality of life.

Sustainable development constantly seeks to achieve social and economic progress in ways that will not exhaust the earth’s finite natural resources.  The needs of the world today are real and immediate, yet it’s necessary to develop ways to meet these needs that do not disregard the future.  The capacity of our ecosystem is not limitless, meaning that future generations may not be able to meet their needs the way we are able to now. Sustainable development is ecologically equitable, culturally durable and socially enjoyable.

Goals Of Sustainable Development

1.  Survival and well being of human beings.

2. Survival and well being of all other species.

3. Survival and well being of the earth, natural resources and all factors that support life on earth.

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Education for sustainable development is the process of equipping students with the knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes needed to work and live in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing, both in the present and for future generations. Education for sustainable development means working with students to encourage  them to: 

·       consider what the concept of global citizenship means in the context of their own discipline and in their future professional and personal lives

·       think about issues of social justice, ethics and wellbeing, and how these relate to ecological and economic factors

·       develop a future-facing outlook; learning to think about the consequences  of actions, and how systems and societies can be adapted to ensure  sustainable futures.  

Education for sustainable development is 'future-facing' in the sense that students are encouraged to think about current and emergent and future situations, relevant to their studies, and in so doing gain a wider socioeconomic and environmental perspective on the relevance of their work. Being open to a range of other areas of expertise and banks of knowledge, outside their immediate discipline, through both formal and informal learning environments, is a fundamental feature of education for sustainable development.  

Education for sustainable development encourages students to develop critical thinking and to take a wide-ranging, systemic and self-reflective approach, adapting to novel situations that can arise from complexity. An ability to anticipate and prepare for predictable outcomes and be ready to adapt to unexpected ones is an important goal.   

Education has made many valuable contributions to societies and development globally, and is recognized for the important role it has in improving livelihoods worldwide.  Quality education should prepare societies to actively participate in global politics and economics, as well as provide people with the skills necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions.  Throughout the world, societies have recognized education as a key component of sustainable development.