Sustainability - ESDGC

What is Sustainability?

Sustainable development simply means ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations.

Sustainability is something that affects us all. It is about the future, making sure that the solutions of today's problems do not store up trouble at a later date.

The most widely used definition of sustainable development, is that of the Brundtland Commission - formally the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), which says: "sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". It can also be described as ‘not cheating on our children’ or ‘living off the interest, not the capital’.

It recognises that in order to improve quality of life for everyone, we need to consider economic, social and environmental issues in an integrated way. For example, economic growth is not sustainable if it causes environmental and social degradation.

Sustainable development means doing things differently at work, at school and at home, to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. We all have a part to play.

What is Global Citizenship?

Global Citizenship is about understanding the need to tackle injustice and inequality and having the desire and ability to work actively to do so. It is about valuing the Earth as precious and unique and safeguarding the future for those coming after us. Global Citizenship is a way of thinking and behaving. It is an outlook on life, a belief that we can make a difference.

A Global Citizen is seen as someone who:

• is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen;
• respects and values diversity;
• has an understanding of how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically and environmentally;
• is outraged by social injustice;
• participates in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global;
• is willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place;
• takes responsibility for their actions.

TALK training’s commitment

TALK training is committed to Environmental Management within all our centres and are especially proud of all our staff and learners based at our Blackwood Centre for all their hard work and commitment towards improving the site’s environmental performance. Their efforts culminated in the site being awarded the Green Dragon Standard in Autumn 2007. Plans began early in the year when an Environmental Review was carried out by Groundwork a registered charity developed to build sustainable community building sustainable communities in areas of need through joint environmental action Everyone at Blackwood has been working towards the standard since January of this year, so well done all.

Green Dragon is all about making a commitment to environmental management. There are 954 organisations of all shapes and sizes that have already made the commitment. The standard is made up of five steps each incorporating the key elements of Planning, Taking Action, Checking Progress and Reviewing Achievements to realise continual environmental improvement.

Useful Links for Resources and Further Guidance:

www.groundwork.org.uk
Environmental regeneration charity. They work in partnership with local people, local authorities and business to promote economic and social regeneration.

www.greendragonems.com
Green Dragon is about making a commitment to environmental management. They have a standard that organisations can work towards and be awarded, following significant environmental improvement.

www.arenanetwork.org
ARENA Network is an independent organisation providing practical support to business and other organisations primarily in Wales on environmental management and training related issues.

www.sewalesesdgc.org.uk
South East Wales ESDGC Forum is a collaboration of officers from councils in the area. Useful links, guidance, documents and activities can be found on their site.

http://new.wales.gov.uk
WAG – Sustainable Development
This section contains lots of news, articles and resources on the subject.

http://new.wales.gov.uk/
WAG – Environment and Countryside
This Environment and Countryside section of the WAG site contains masses of information, guidance and resources on subjects from Climate change to farming.

www.cewc-cymru.org.uk
CEWC run events and projects across Wales CEWC-Cymru (Council for Education in World Citizenship - Cymru) is Wales’s foremost national charity working directly with young people and teachers on matters of global citizenship. Find out about their events and training as well as resources.

www.dea.org.uk
DEA is an education charity that promotes global learning.

www.glade.org
Glade - The Centre for Global and Development Education. Here you can find resources, learning materials and further links.

 
www.esd-wales.org.uk
This panel promotes EDDGC in schools and adult education. Here you can find action plans that have been created.

www.carbonfootprint.com
An easy source of practical advice for busy people and companies who want to 'to their bit' for the environment.

www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk
How big is your carbon footprint? Calculate it on this government site and get free advice for a greener life!

www.defra.gov.uk
The UK government department tasked with issues such as the environment, sustainable development, the countryside, wildlife and rural development.

www.wasteonline.org.uk
Recycling is extremely important. Here you can find information of waste minimisations, reductions, and reusage in an accessible and effective manner.