Publish at February 02 2022 Updated February 10 2022
Sars-Cov-2 has muddied the waters of global issues. No one had seen a potential pandemic coming. Nevertheless, there was already a topic that was mobilizing the minds of all nations: climate change. Indeed, the forecasts did not seem very encouraging at the time and the observation has not changed at the beginning of the 2020 decade.
We would be in decisive years where great actions will be needed so that life in the coming decades will not be more arduous. Yet, while covid-19 led to extensive international cooperation (with important caveats, for example, on the distribution of vaccines outside developed countries), the ecological transition does not appear to be leading to such a movement.
Governments perform a hesitant waltz between desires for change and fears of economic collapse. So, wishful thinking abounds but gestures are made at the drop of a hat. Which is not ideal in a context where everyone is signalling urgency.
Besides, is the issue of ecological transition being nurtured among the next generations? UNESCO looked into this by analyzing the curriculum of a hundred countries, including France. The report, published in 2021, shows that progress remains to be made. 47% of states had no reference to climate change. In addition, the places most vulnerable to these transformations are the ones that disseminate the most. Moreover, in the countries where the subject is dealt with, it is dealt with more in primary and secondary education than in higher or technical education. This seems counterproductive since they are the ones who could initiate these necessary changes in different industries.
In fact, France has taken a strong interest. On March 29, 2021, the working group "Teaching the ecological transition in higher education" chaired by climate scientist Jean Jouzel submitted its report to Minister Frédérique Vidal. The idea was to figure out how to promote it in faculties so that students are 100% trained. A mission extended by the minister, moreover to have as many recommendations as possible. Already the initial document offers paths to work on:
This last point is very interesting. Because even if they are not fully educated, students are increasingly aware of the issue. They are demanding to be properly educated on the topic, giving more importance on the ecological record of training institutions, and are even willing to go to lower paying but more environmentally responsible jobs after graduation. This pressure may bring more action, alas, than the Jouzel report.
This transition will require, by the way, a multidisciplinary approach. Because one of the current mistakes in pedagogy, especially in higher education, is to conclude that only climate scientists can talk about the climate issue. Yet this could not be further from the truth. This topic encompasses our entire way of life: from transportation to entertainment to energy to architecture.
Thus, each faculty can, in its own way and within its own field of expertise, contribute techniques and methods conducive to a lighter ecological footprint. Even business schools can and should. Especially since ecology and economics are not necessarily enemies.
To help themselves in imparting knowledge on the subject, professors could consult a platform that emerged at the end of 2021: Teaching the Climate. This project is first and foremost a social platform where teachers share different practices. Thus, some can make calls to all or discuss consistent pedagogical approaches. In addition, all are invited to upload the courses and materials used in order to guide colleagues in their teaching.
As for those in a company wishing to make the ecological transition, there are various training courses of varying length that allow to see what behaviors to adopt in order to reduce, among other things, carbon dioxide emission. An approach that is all the more interesting since some legislation and organizations offer financial assistance or tax credits.
Illustration: Coernl on Pixabay
References:
Acquier, Aurélien, and Pierre Peyretou. "How to Teach Energy Transition and Climate in Business Schools." International Science Council. Last updated November 17, 2021. https://council.science/current/blog/how-to-teach-energy-transition-and-climate-in-business-schools/.
Briand, Michel. "Teaching The Climate, The Shift Proposes A Platform For The Teaching Community." Pedagogical Innovation. Last updated December 14, 2021. https://www.innovation-pedagogique.fr/article11045.html.
"How To Promote The Ecological Transition In Higher Education?" Notre-environnement.gouv.fr. Last updated May 17, 2021. https://www.notre-environnement.gouv.fr/actualites/breves/article/comment-promouvoir-la-transition-ecologique-dans-l-enseignement-superieur.
Cormaty, Isabelle. "Enseigner La Transition écologique Dans Le Supérieur : Quels Enjeux ?" Campus Matin. Last updated April 1, 2021. https://www.campusmatin.com/vie-campus/rse-developpement-durable/objectif-100-d-etudiants-formes-a-la-transition-ecologique.html.
"Teaching The Ecological Transition In Higher Education: A Report Not To Be Ignored." Engineers Without Borders. Last updated April 8, 2021. https://www.isf-france.org/articles/enseigner-la-transition-ecologique-dans-le-superieur-un-rapport-ne-pas-negliger.
Teaching The Climate. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://enseignerleclimat.org/.
"Formation à La Transition écologique." IPAG | École De Commerce Et De Management Paris Et Nice. Last updated: May 3, 2021. https://www.ipag.edu/blog/formation-transition-ecologique.
"Frédérique Vidal Prolongs La Mission Enseigner La Transition Ecologique Dans Le Supérieur Confiée à Jean Jouzel." Enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr. Last updated: March 30, 2021. https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/frederique-vidal-prolonge-la-mission-enseigner-la-transition-ecologique-dans-le-superieur-confiee-47066.
"Getting every school climate-ready: how countries are integrating climate change issues in education." UNESDOC. Last updated 2021. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000379591.
"The Green Transition in Education." ETF. Last updated April 15, 2021. https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/news/green-transition-education.
Lemarchand, Julia. "Ecological Transition: Has the Wake-up Call Of Schools And Universities Finally Happened?" Les Echos Start. Last updated October 28, 2021. https://start.lesechos.fr/apprendre/universites-ecoles/impact-les-ecoles-et-les-universites-peuvent-elles-changer-le-monde-1357900.
"Pour Un Enseignement De La Transition écologique." Vivement L'Ecole! Last updated October 29, 2021. https://demain-lecole.over-blog.com/2021/10/pour-un-enseignement-de-la-transition-ecologique.html.
You might also like:
Will they send their children to this school?
Today, the proportion of new students remains relatively stable but the needs are diversifying. Politically, the movement is towards inclusion. National education is happening at the local level, where schools are located. Educational needs and practices are changing so rapidly that school organization and design are on the agenda.
Psychological safety and collective intelligence facilitation
The psychological safety promoted by Edmonson underpins the power to act, is a dialogical construction and enables learning to be multiplied.
The polychronic approach: creativity in a teleworking context
To this day, teleworking is the subject of debate between antagonistic groups. And yet, it seems to be fertile ground for creativity and efficiency, especially when working in polychrony. To unite opposing views, it would be possible to opt for a hybrid organization, a guarantee of creativity and socio-professional fulfillment.
The place of listening to music in the classroom
We've been playing music since the very beginning of our species. We have a need to hear melodies, wiggle to rhythms and so on. It's peculiar that the school environment is so associated with silence. What if we reintroduced listening to music more frequently? Especially since science is proving its benefits.
The reasons for attacking one's neighbors have varied over the centuries, as have the means of dissuading them from doing so. Principles and physics of defense.
