Contextual situation for our work

George Monbiot warns that the current economic crisis will be nothing compared to the pending life-support system collapse.  He argues that just as the over-use of financial capital leads to an economic break down, the over use of natural resources, our life support base, is leading to an even more devastating collapse.   Losing one’s investments and life-savings is one thing, but losing the ability to enjoy a reasonable quality of life on Earth, where one can enjoy healthy food, clean water, air and energy resources is a far more serious matter.  Current climate change predictions suggest that while the present generations’ children may survive adequately, their children will not be so fortunate (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, 2008). This is a direct contradiction to sustainability!

Modern social structures are at risk and cannot last: our economies are failing us, rampant fuel and food prices threaten human livelihoods, and water needs, energy demands, health risks and land management challenges are proving ever more demanding.  Fears for an unsustainable future contribute to the uncertainty and doom and gloom scenarios are ever present.  Many knowledgeable people clearly articulate the risks to life on planet Earth.  However, in articulating what is going wrong they haven’t always been clear how we can solve the problems.  The Eskom Energy and Sustainability Programme clearly shows us how!

Under the leadership of Kofi Annan the United Nations identified Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a solution to the current life support system collapse.  Fortunately, ESD is not new to South Africa.  For over 16 years ESKOM has supported WESSA to conduct and manage the “Energy and Sustainability Programme” for schools, and the project has gone very well indeed even winning awards worldwide.
Why is this work arousing so much interest?
What is so special about ESD in South Africa?
Should we be sharing these insights more widely with our South African partners?

In order to answer these questions ESKOM and WESSA share this story of the Energy and Sustainability Programme – its work though 16 years and specifically, we highlight projects which the programme supports around the country with young people who show a resolve for a sustainable future.

What is the ESKOM Energy and Sustainability Programme?

  Implementation of the E&S Programme concentrates on three intervention methods:

•   Active Learning Projects (focussed intervention with smaller groups)
•  Provincial workshops (intervention with groups of educators at clustered schools)
• Strategic Areas schools (strong support with schools clustered near Eskom builds)

 For the past 16 years Eskom and WESSA (together) have evolved the design of a joint partnership for Education for Sustainable Development.

In its early years, the programme was run as a nati onal environmental education competition (the Eskom Enviro Competition). Since 2002, however, the programme has changed to meet relevant and appropriate requirements for Education for Sustainable Development processes within a changing South Africa. The programme presently manages a support programme for environmental active learning, centred on local issues, and based on school learners accepting the challenge to work on environmental sustainability issues within their local context.

Due to the responsive nature of the WESSA organisational structure to meet the needs of Education for Sustainable Development in a changing South Africa, and the existing network of regional co-ordinators within that structur e, the E&S Programme is well-placed to support the objectives of both partners – that of vibrant, active learning, and project-driven education for young South Africans.