Sharing practice from around the globe: Feedback from the Best of Both Worlds Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development Conference 2014

Abstract

The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) draws to a close in 2014, resulting in individuals and organisations reflecting on the evidence-based impact of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programmes in the last decade, both nationally and internationally. In the UK, as we continue to define a curriculum for sustainability and an integrated agenda for outdoor learning, are there lessons we can learn from around the globe? In May 2014, the Best of Both Worlds Conference on Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development took place in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is where countries at various stages of ‘development’ and with vastly varying carbon footprints came together to discuss and share EE and ESD practice. In this paper we will feedback the learning from this conference and attempt to define a global picture, comparing and contrasting the story of EE and ESD, through presenting, and subsequently analysing, case studies from some of the participating countries.