Sunday, 20 November 2011
The Club of Reykjavik Initiative
Starting Nov 2011 this blog is superseded by The Club of Reykjavik that can be accessed via the ENIRDELM wiki space tab on the website http://www.enirdelm.org/ There the home page on the clubofrejkjavikel4sd wikis space sets out the aims and events of the new on-line forum and its complementary face-to-face events that relate to developing an integrated understanding of, and acting to ensure, a sustainable global future. CoRk's particular emphasis is on the role of education and educational leadership's contribution to these aims.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Earth System Sustainability Initiative
A newly established international research initiative will respond to the most compelling challenges facing our societies in this era of global environmental change. The International Council for Science (ICSU), within a global alliance of partners, has established a major 10-year initiative which aims to effectively deliver solution-oriented research on global environmental change for sustainability. This new international collaboration effort, the Earth System Sustainability Initiative, will provide global coordination for science to respond to the most pressing societal and environmental challenges.
The growing sense of urgency is emphasized by Prof. Johan Rockström, Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Centre, and co-Chair of the team that is overseeing design and early implementation of the initiative: “The current pace and magnitude of human-induced global change is unprecedented, and is manifest in increasingly dangerous threats to societies and well-being. Climate change and biodiversity loss are only two examples of processes occurring at unsustainable rates.” Rockström adds: “Effective responses to all these threats to world development require a new way of doing research.”
With its integrated approach based on the active involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, the initiative will provide support for actions towards sustainability. Its launch will be next June, at the United Nations “Rio+20” conference, when policy- and decision-makers from across the world will explore new pathways to sustainable development.
Growing collaboration with other international organizations with similar processes and mandates has strengthened the basis of the initiative. It is now jointly managed by ICSU, the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the Belmont Forum of funding agencies, UNEP, UNESCO and UNU.
“For the first time on a global scale we can talk about effectively co-designed research on global environmental change, with researchers, donors and users working hand-in-hand to define goals and priorities upfront”, says Prof. Yuan T Lee, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and incoming ICSU President.
For more information on the Earth System Sustainability Initiative, see: http://tinyurl.com/ESSI-ICSU
For
The growing sense of urgency is emphasized by Prof. Johan Rockström, Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Centre, and co-Chair of the team that is overseeing design and early implementation of the initiative: “The current pace and magnitude of human-induced global change is unprecedented, and is manifest in increasingly dangerous threats to societies and well-being. Climate change and biodiversity loss are only two examples of processes occurring at unsustainable rates.” Rockström adds: “Effective responses to all these threats to world development require a new way of doing research.”
With its integrated approach based on the active involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, the initiative will provide support for actions towards sustainability. Its launch will be next June, at the United Nations “Rio+20” conference, when policy- and decision-makers from across the world will explore new pathways to sustainable development.
Growing collaboration with other international organizations with similar processes and mandates has strengthened the basis of the initiative. It is now jointly managed by ICSU, the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the Belmont Forum of funding agencies, UNEP, UNESCO and UNU.
“For the first time on a global scale we can talk about effectively co-designed research on global environmental change, with researchers, donors and users working hand-in-hand to define goals and priorities upfront”, says Prof. Yuan T Lee, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and incoming ICSU President.
For more information on the Earth System Sustainability Initiative, see: http://tinyurl.com/ESSI-ICSU
For
Planetary Boundaries research gains further momentum
Ban-ki Moon statement
The research on identifying critical planetary boundaries and how we can create a "safe operating space for humanity" has gained increasing momentum since its launch in September 2009. Policy makers and the world's leading scientists on global sustainability are now jointly working to take the message to the highest decision-making level.
Further evidence of this is the recent statements by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who, during a speech to the Leaders' Dialogue on Climate Change, urged global society to stand behind science on planetary boundaries. "Help us defend the science that shows we are destabilizing our climate and stretching planetary boundaries to a perilous degree," said the Secretary-General. He told the leaders that he was counting on their commitment to agreement at the upcoming COP17 in Durban, South Africa, later this year, and at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil next year. Read the entire speech here.
Nobel Laureate Symposium
The UN Secretary-General's plea was also followed up by Tarja Halonen, President of Finland. In a speech at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21 September, Halonen stated the commitment by the newly-appointed UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability "to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, make growth inclusive, and production and consumption more sustainable, while combating climate change and respecting the range of other planetary boundaries". Read the entire speech here.
Halonen's statement is also a direct reflection of the recommendations made during the 3rd Nobel Laureate Symposium which in May 2011 gathered more than twenty Nobel Laureates, a number of leading policy makers and some of the world's most renowned thinkers and experts on global sustainability.
The research on identifying critical planetary boundaries and how we can create a "safe operating space for humanity" has gained increasing momentum since its launch in September 2009. Policy makers and the world's leading scientists on global sustainability are now jointly working to take the message to the highest decision-making level.
Further evidence of this is the recent statements by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who, during a speech to the Leaders' Dialogue on Climate Change, urged global society to stand behind science on planetary boundaries. "Help us defend the science that shows we are destabilizing our climate and stretching planetary boundaries to a perilous degree," said the Secretary-General. He told the leaders that he was counting on their commitment to agreement at the upcoming COP17 in Durban, South Africa, later this year, and at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil next year. Read the entire speech here.
Nobel Laureate Symposium
The UN Secretary-General's plea was also followed up by Tarja Halonen, President of Finland. In a speech at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21 September, Halonen stated the commitment by the newly-appointed UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability "to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, make growth inclusive, and production and consumption more sustainable, while combating climate change and respecting the range of other planetary boundaries". Read the entire speech here.
Halonen's statement is also a direct reflection of the recommendations made during the 3rd Nobel Laureate Symposium which in May 2011 gathered more than twenty Nobel Laureates, a number of leading policy makers and some of the world's most renowned thinkers and experts on global sustainability.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
I would just like to inform you about a conference in Uppsala. There you have a opportunity to collaborate.
Information about GRESD activities 16-20 May - please click 'Conference' , the top-bar above
Öppna föreläsningar - se under 'Conference' ovan och därefter under programs (vänster sido-meny)
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Welcome to the Swedish national Graduate school in Education and Sustainable Development
Print out a sheet with information about GRESD
In early May, 2009 the Graduate school in Education and Sustainable Development (GRESD) started its research activities. Here are more than 15 PhD students from different disciplines given the opportunity to create multidisciplinary research concerning issues relating to education and sustainable development.
This is a new and unique form of research school that has been developed in close coordination and collaboration with eight universities in the research area of education and sustainable development, (ESD). Thank to this, GRESD will in the near future be one of the largest ESD research environments in the world.
The research school organizes cross-disciplinary courses dealing with these factors and the courses are organized by professors with different institutional affiliations. The first compulsory course started in May 2009 and it is offered to all interested doctoral students and master students.
The research school aims at, in consert with the PhD students, creating a creative environment for research, which future multidisciplinary research projects could be develop through co-operation with international universities. International guest professors are also linked to the research school through an international committee.
If you are interested in education and sustainable development, do not hesitate to contact us for further information and cooperation!
Per Sund
Acting scientific leader and coordinator
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Here is some more information about GRESD
Here is information about the three mandatory doctoral courses within GRESD
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
The Center for Ecoliteracy presents a downloadable guide to Daniel Goleman's Ecological Intelligence: The Hidden Impacts of What We Buy (Random House, paperback edition 2010).
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/downloads/ecological-intelligence-teachers-guide
Download the Ecological Intelligence Teacher's Guide (378k pdf)
"Ecological intelligence allows us to comprehend systems in all their complexity, as well as the interplay between the natural and man-made worlds. But that understanding demands a vast store of knowledge, one so huge that no single brain can store it all. Each one of us needs the help of others to navigate the complexities of ecological intelligence. We need to collaborate." — Daniel Goleman
It is more important than ever to recognize and understand the countless ways that human and natural systems interact, and the effects of that interaction on people and the environment.
In Ecological Intelligence, internationally known psychologist and author Daniel Goleman argues that modern technologies, a globalized economy, and complex webs of relationships present new challenges that require new skills. Goleman describes how what we don't know can hurt us and discusses the difficulty of discovering the impacts of the products we use and the decisions we make. He explores emerging techniques and approaches for improving our collective knowledge and becoming more mindful and effective consumers and citizens.
The Center for Ecoliteracy's teacher's guide, for high school or undergraduate programs, includes synopses of each chapter, key terms, and questions to deepen discussion or to serve as prompts for writing. The guide offers a wealth of ideas for expanding learning using a variety of strategies for classroom activities, projects, research topics, and course assignments.
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/downloads/ecological-intelligence-teachers-guide
Download the Ecological Intelligence Teacher's Guide (378k pdf)
"Ecological intelligence allows us to comprehend systems in all their complexity, as well as the interplay between the natural and man-made worlds. But that understanding demands a vast store of knowledge, one so huge that no single brain can store it all. Each one of us needs the help of others to navigate the complexities of ecological intelligence. We need to collaborate." — Daniel Goleman
It is more important than ever to recognize and understand the countless ways that human and natural systems interact, and the effects of that interaction on people and the environment.
In Ecological Intelligence, internationally known psychologist and author Daniel Goleman argues that modern technologies, a globalized economy, and complex webs of relationships present new challenges that require new skills. Goleman describes how what we don't know can hurt us and discusses the difficulty of discovering the impacts of the products we use and the decisions we make. He explores emerging techniques and approaches for improving our collective knowledge and becoming more mindful and effective consumers and citizens.
The Center for Ecoliteracy's teacher's guide, for high school or undergraduate programs, includes synopses of each chapter, key terms, and questions to deepen discussion or to serve as prompts for writing. The guide offers a wealth of ideas for expanding learning using a variety of strategies for classroom activities, projects, research topics, and course assignments.
5 minutes to get the big picture
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/blog/300-years-fossil-fuels-300-seconds
This animated talk from the Post-Carbon Institute outlines the evolution of our dependence on fossil fuels and the four essential challenges of moving to a post-carbon age. It is from the website of the Ecoliteracy Center headed in California by Fritjof Capra.
This animated talk from the Post-Carbon Institute outlines the evolution of our dependence on fossil fuels and the four essential challenges of moving to a post-carbon age. It is from the website of the Ecoliteracy Center headed in California by Fritjof Capra.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
UK Sustainable Development Commission closes down
The Sustainable Development Commission is the UK Government's independent watchdog
on sustainable development. The Commission reports to the Prime Minister and the First Ministers
of Scotland and Wales. Sadly, it is closing down today. This is its final message:
The SDC says goodbye – What next for sustainable Development?
The Sustainable Development Commission will close its doors on 31 March 2010. But the great challenge of making our lives in the UK and around the world fairer and more sustainable goes on.
"Embedding sustainable development into the architecture of Government is essential if we are to tackle the biggest and most pressing issues of the day."
» Read our closing statement from Will Day and Andrew Lee http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/news.php/412/main/what-next-for-sustainable-development
We would like to thank you for your interest in the work of the SDC. The work you do to promote sustainability in your area – be it in government, business, the public sector, academia, NGOs or civil society – is helping to take us towards a better future. Sharing our work with you has been a privilege, and we wish you every success in your work in the future.
Although our work is coming to an end, there are a number of opportunities you can sign up to for information or to share knowledge or participate in future change:
Defra has committed to taking on the SDC’s stakeholder engagement function, and would like to continue to work with you, but you’ll need to sign up here to be involved in the future http://sd.defra.gov.uk/news/register/
Wales - The new arrangements for supporting sustainable development in Wales will be led by a Commissioner for Sustainable Futures. To stay informed of opportunities to be involved with the new arrangements, e-mail admin@cynnalcymru.com.
The People’s Green Watchdog will be a highly collaborative network of influencers, experts and interested parties that will monitor all government activity relating to sustainable development, as well as acting as a lobbying platform. Follow @GreenwatchdogUK on Twitter or email: info@greenwatchdog.co.uk
The St Andrews Sustainability Institute at the University of St Andrews is aiming to develop a cross UK knowledge network to link up universities with an active research, teaching and/or knowledge exchange capacity in sustainable development. If you would like to be involved in this work or hear about progress on this task, please e-mail: sasi@st-andrews.ac.uk http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sasi/home/
» Read more about these and other opportunities on our website http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/links.html
on sustainable development. The Commission reports to the Prime Minister and the First Ministers
of Scotland and Wales. Sadly, it is closing down today. This is its final message:
The SDC says goodbye – What next for sustainable Development?
The Sustainable Development Commission will close its doors on 31 March 2010. But the great challenge of making our lives in the UK and around the world fairer and more sustainable goes on.
"Embedding sustainable development into the architecture of Government is essential if we are to tackle the biggest and most pressing issues of the day."
» Read our closing statement from Will Day and Andrew Lee http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/news.php/412/main/what-next-for-sustainable-development
We would like to thank you for your interest in the work of the SDC. The work you do to promote sustainability in your area – be it in government, business, the public sector, academia, NGOs or civil society – is helping to take us towards a better future. Sharing our work with you has been a privilege, and we wish you every success in your work in the future.
Although our work is coming to an end, there are a number of opportunities you can sign up to for information or to share knowledge or participate in future change:
Defra has committed to taking on the SDC’s stakeholder engagement function, and would like to continue to work with you, but you’ll need to sign up here to be involved in the future http://sd.defra.gov.uk/news/register/
Wales - The new arrangements for supporting sustainable development in Wales will be led by a Commissioner for Sustainable Futures. To stay informed of opportunities to be involved with the new arrangements, e-mail admin@cynnalcymru.com.
The People’s Green Watchdog will be a highly collaborative network of influencers, experts and interested parties that will monitor all government activity relating to sustainable development, as well as acting as a lobbying platform. Follow @GreenwatchdogUK on Twitter or email: info@greenwatchdog.co.uk
The St Andrews Sustainability Institute at the University of St Andrews is aiming to develop a cross UK knowledge network to link up universities with an active research, teaching and/or knowledge exchange capacity in sustainable development. If you would like to be involved in this work or hear about progress on this task, please e-mail: sasi@st-andrews.ac.uk http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sasi/home/
» Read more about these and other opportunities on our website http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/links.html
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