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In Chapter One, Hugh Atkinson argues that people and the planet face a number of fundamental challenges in the second decade of the 21st century. These include climate change, increased poverty and rising inequality, deforestation, drought, and rising sea levels. At times, such challenges seem overwhelming. Indeed, there is a real danger of a counsel of despair. It is true that progress on meeting these challenges has appeared painfully slow at times. Politicians and decision-makers have often been guilty of short-term thinking based on the exigencies of the electoral cycle and the demands of our consumerist society when what is needed is long-term strategic thinking. However, the chapter argues that with strong political leadership backed up by pressure from below, there is a clear opportunity to meet these challenges and move towards a more sustainable world. From the Rio Summit of 1992 to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change in 1998, through to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), there is some evidence of a strengthening global agenda to build a more sustainable and equitable world. True, it is a daunting agenda, but it is one that simply cannot be ignored.
In Chapter Four, Hugh Atkinson analyses the role of the US in respect of the environment and sustainability. Over the last 15 years, there has been an understandable perception of a US with only a limited engagement in the fight against climate change and the broader sustainability agenda. At a federal level, the Bush presidency of 2000 to 2008 certainly lent credence to this view. However, the chapter argues that the actual picture is more nuanced and complex. Of course, there have been, and there will continue to be, obstacles along the way. Too often, the debate in the US is drowned out by the white noise of a divisive and increasingly hysterical political culture. Yet, despite this, there have been a range of initiatives at federal, state and local level that have sought to engage in a positive way with the sustainability agenda. Furthermore, the election of Barak Obama as president seemed to point to a new activism at the federal level of government. In a speech to the United Nations (UN) in September 2009, Obama spoke of the serious threat of climate change and of the pressing need to take action. The chapter examines whether such rhetoric has been matched by substantive policy action. The analysis in this chapter is set with the context of the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers and a political culture that eschews active government.
This timely and accessible book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. Its central focus is the future of people and the planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change in the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. After all, planet earth is the only home we have! The book will be important reading for academics and students in a variety of related subjects, including politics, public policy, education, sustainable development, geography, media, international relations and development studies. It will also be a valuable resource for NGOs and policy makers.
Chapter Ten starts with an analysis of some of the key themes that have emerged in the course of writing this book. These include: the importance of the link and the interrelationship between politics, education and learning in meeting the challenges of sustainability; the need to challenge the current educational paradigm and reshape education systems towards sustainable development; the realisation that traditional neoliberal growth models are proving increasingly dysfunctional for people and the planet; yet, despite this, neoliberalism remains robust in influential policy circles; the crucial importance of tackling climate change if we are to achieve environmental and social justice; and the need for a more honest engagement by politicians with the public about the challenges that creating a more sustainable world presents. It concludes by setting out two alternative scenarios for the future of people and the planet. The challenges that we face today in combating climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex and multifaceted. As such, they need to be approached in a holistic way by adopting joined-up solutions for joined-up problems. We all have a stake in this. Academics from all disciplines need to break out of their silos and work in a much more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manner. To this end, the book will combine both political science and ESD analysis of the challenges of sustainability and climate change.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
The book explores the links between politics, learning and sustainability. It seeks to answer a fundamental question: how do we move to a politics in which political leaders are honest with voters about the need to fly less, to use less energy, to use our cars less and to forsake the latest high-tech gadgets? This presents a real challenge for the world’s political leaders. Are they capable of making the necessary brave decisions? The book’s central focus is on the future of people and planet itself. The challenges that we face in combatting climate change and building a more sustainable world are complex, and the book argues that if we are to successfully meet these challenges we need a fundamental change to the way we do politics and economics, embedding a lifelong commitment to sustainability in all learning. We have no option but to make things work for the better. Planet earth is the only home we have. A central argument of the book is that the terms of the debate need to be shifted, so that responding to the challenges of climate change and shaping a more sustainable world is not seen in negative terms (simply giving up stuff!), but rather is viewed as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life.