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There are several reasons why schools should teach sustainability

Key reasons why schools should focus on teaching sustainability

Environmental stewardship: Teaching sustainability helps students understand the importance of protecting the environment and natural resources for future generations.

Personal and societal well-being: Sustainability education can help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their own lives and the impact they have on their communities and the world.

Economic benefits: Sustainability practices can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency in areas such as energy, water, and waste management.

Social justice: Sustainability education can help students understand and address issues of social and environmental justice, such as the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits.

Overall, teaching sustainability can help students become responsible global citizens who are able to make informed decisions that consider the long-term consequences of their actions.

There are many activities that schools can use to promote sustainability and teach students about environmental stewardship. Here are a few ideas:

1.  Create a school garden: Students can learn about plant growth and the importance of locally-grown food while also getting hands-on experience with gardening.

2.  Conduct a waste audit: Students can work together to sort through the school's trash and recycling to identify areas where the school can reduce waste.

3.  Implement a recycling program: Students can work together to set up a recycling program at the school and educate their classmates about the importance of recycling.

4. Plan an energy-saving campaign: Students can brainstorm ways to reduce energy consumption at the school and implement their ideas, such as turning off lights and unplugging electronics when not in use.

5. Take a field trip to a local farm or nature reserve: Students can learn about sustainable agriculture and the importance of preserving natural habitats.

6. Participate in a beach or river clean-up: Students can work together to remove litter and debris from local waterways and learn about the negative impact of pollution on the environment.

7. Conduct a composting program: Students can learn about the benefits of composting and set up a composting system at the school to reduce waste and enrich soil.

8. Students can digitally record all the sustainability activities and showcase it as part of their study portfolio.

9. Plan a sustainability-themed fundraiser: Students can use their creativity to plan a fundraiser that supports sustainability efforts, such as a car wash using biodegradable soap or a bake sale featuring locally-grown ingredients.

10.Teachers can link all their subjects to sustainability-related themes.

11. Initiate a sustainability newsletter and get the students to contribute to this.

Author : Anju De Alwis

Anju is a Keynote speaker and founding director of the education company Ultimate Access, based in UAE. Doctoral candidate researching the topic of Blockchain in Education. A senior executive with extensive experience in the corporate commercial world. Experienced in partnering with senior executives to carry out research activities related to emerging technologies such as Blockchain, AI, Machine Learning, alternate financing, DeFi (de-centralized finance) with industry partnerships. Qualifications Manchester Business School - MBA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CIMA - UK Chartered Global Management Accountants CGMA CPA - Australia Chartered Institute of Marketing - UK I hold the following leadership positions at both CIMA UK and CPA Australia; CIMA UK - Global Council Member CIMA UK - Member of Thought Leadership & Business Ethics Committee CPA Australia - Member of Ethics and Professional Standards Centre of Excellence.