4 October
2006 - All Australians have a vital role to play
in creating a more sustainable nation, the Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell, said today.
Speaking on the day the Australian
Association for Environmental Education (AAEE)
National Conference commences in Bunbury, Senator
Campbell said “With the environmental challenges
we now face, such as climate change and water
management, educating young and old on the importance
of sustainability is an international priority.”
The conference will discuss
the Australian Government’s Strategy for the United
Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development,
2005 – 2014, with the themes of Learning Sustainability,
Biodiversity Education and Sustaining Futures.
"As a major sponsor of
the conference, my Department has a strong interest
in how education can contribute to a more sustainable
society," Senator Campbell said. "This
conference is one of many initiatives we support
as part of the Australian Government’s commitments
under the United Nations Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development."
A culture of sustainability
can improve educational, environmental, social
and economic outcomes, such as those achieved
by the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative
(AuSSI). There are 2,015 schools across Australia
are participating in the programme, some of whom
have made waste and water reductions of up to
40 per cent, and are saving as much as $8,900
on their electricity bills.
"Education for sustainable
development is taking place not only in schools,
but also within the wider community," said
Senator Campbell. With support from the Australian
Government, 10 major organisations including NAB,
Toyota, Westpac and Wesley Mission are using practical
education techniques to work towards sustainability
within their organisation.
"The UN Decade is a great
opportunity to reflect on what we are already
doing in this area, and to deepen engagement with
the community on sustainable development."
The Strategy for the Decade
acknowledges that new ways of living and working
across all sectors of the Australian community
are required to address unsustainable practices.
Developed in consultation with all Australian
Government portfolios, the strategy sets out how
the Government is working towards solving complex
issues, and aims to give Australian communities
the understanding, knowledge, skills and capacity
they need to contribute to sustainable development.
The strategy is to be released
soon, and builds on the National Action Plan Environmental
Education for a Sustainable Future – released
in July 2000.
For more information on the
AAEE National Conference, visit http://www.aaeeconf2006.org/
To find out more about sustainability education,
visit http://www.deh.gov.au/education/index.html
Rob Broadfield
