Environmental education in South Africa and the forgotten link in SONA 2024

The SONA 2024 touched on many of the concerns of the South African public. One of the main concerns is the ongoing energy crisis, with loadshedding stages changing daily. Climate change and sustainability were referenced numerous times when referencing the economy and the future of the South African economy. The Climate Change Response Fund has now been established to help alleviate the strain that climate change presents. This can range from repairing infrastructure after natural disasters to helping the environment recover after natural disasters and providing economic assistance to affected communities. The Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET) was also highlighted. Established last year and set to be active until 2027, JET is assisting with the transition to sustainable/green energy solutions. The goal of JET is to establish a low-carbon economy and a climate-resilient society that supports South Africa as a key player in green energy globally. However, actions speak louder than words, for JET to be successful there needs to be distance from foreign multinationals that are trying to buy the rights to seismic testing and drilling for gas and oil in our oceans.

SONA 2024 (Credit: NEWS24 – Gallo images/Ziyaad Douglas)

Another concern that was noted in the SONA was education. South Africa has made a pointed effort to focus on education, due to the contentious history of education in South Africa. Early Childhood Development has recently taken centre stage as well, with the realization that children who are not allowed to develop a solid foundation may struggle later in life. However, the link between environment and education was not mentioned. There is a strong link between climate change, environment, and education, and especially early childhood development. Early Childhood Development is an essential cornerstone of the climate crisis in terms of providing viable solutions. The link between environmental protection/sustainability and education must never be overlooked or undervalued.

Early Childhood Development (Credit: teethingtotantrums.com)

The South African education policy has incorporated ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ (ESD) which is an approach to education that fosters social change and sustainability. ESD is a different approach to education, and it allows people of all ages to learn and work together to build a sustainable future. While having the South African education policy geared towards ESD is a step in the right direction, it is not functioning in the way it should. It is not spreading the values of environmental education adequately, but rather looking at sustainability and environmental preservation as an afterthought. Environmental education is not only about preserving our surroundings but gives children and anyone involved in environmental education practical skills they can use in different areas of life.

Following this, what should our environmental education look like in a South African context? There are a few key ideas that need to be at the core of ESD. UNESCO provides three key themes of environmental education. The first theme is awareness and sensitivity about the environment and environmental issues. The second theme is knowledge and understanding about the environment and environmental issues. The third theme is attitude concern for the environment and help to maintain environmental quality. Therefore, sustainability for instance under this paradigm, is not only about understanding the meaning of the term and its implications but also implementing and supporting circular systems that support sustainability. This includes teaching children and adults about urban agriculture and its benefits for example. The key is to approach environmental education holistically, understanding the interconnectedness between us and our environment.

Environmental Education (Credit: Ohio Ocean Foundation & Quora 2017)

There are simple changes schools can make to incorporate environmental education that are cost-effective and maintainable. The first can be to create a vocabulary list of the words the children need to know and can then introduce into their everyday conversations. The second would be to talk about the most pressing environmental issues, dividing the class into groups to make posters about the issues could be a great activity that also promotes teamwork. Introduce students to the concept of “think globally and act locally,” which takes into account local and cultural differences when approaching global issues. This can also improve empathy and acceptance among students. Another practice could be to create a “green team,” which is a group of students that are responsible for a term’s environmental project, and each term the “green team” changes, so that each student has a chance to be in the “green team.” These projects could be to create a greener classroom or a recycling campaign. The idea of a “green team” also encourages teamwork, creative thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills. Another simple activity can be to implement mindfulness activities in the classroom. Mindfulness can encourage the feeling of connectedness and togetherness. Students can acknowledge their connection with one another and the space around them.

Environmental education is constant and ongoing, meaning adults can also benefit from it. One can take simple steps to improve their environmental education at home. There are five activities that one can partake in. The first can be to look into climate issues and keep up to date with what is happening regarding environmental news. Second is getting involved in climate activism, and this can be on a small scale, such as resharing informative posts on social media, or on a bigger scale, which could be attending climate change protests or organizing them. The third is to try to use environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday products (this can be exercised with care because as it stands a variety of environmentally friendly alternatives are more expensive and therefore can be difficult for everyone to afford). The fourth activity is to participate in activities that support sustainability, such as recycling, reducing our carbon footprint, and creating green living spaces. The fifth practice is to simply learn to enjoy nature and the outdoors, once enjoyment and appreciation are developed it is easier to get people involved.

Overall, the link between education and the environment is undeniable. By instilling environmentally focused practices during early childhood development, it sets up the next generation to be conscious of the world around them. The hope is that at the next SONA environmental education can also be brought out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

By Megan Mannion, Global Youth Ambassador