International Perspectives on Best Practice in the Development of Urban Environmental Education, and Education for Sustainability Programs

Extract

This paper reports on the international practices I observed as part of a study tour I undertook as a 2005 NSW Premier's Visy Industries Environmental Education Scholarship holder. Interest in urban environmental education (EE) and education for sustainability (EFS) is increasing as rapid urbanisation emerges as one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The urbanisation processes, fueled by globalisation, environmental degradation, rural unemployment and technological change, are forcing a global exodus from rural areas to urban ones. For developed countries like Australia, urbanisation has resulted in localised environmental and social problems in our cities. These issues include urban design; land clearing and urban sprawl; transport and infrastructure planning; disposal of solid waste; water, noise and air pollution; preservation of biodiversity and heritage; water scarcity; social isolation; loss of social capital and socio economic inequality. The impact of the developed world's largely urban population on the all eco-systems, has focused critical world attention on urban places as the sources of widespread environmental degradation.