SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5th Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Strategy for Education in Sustainability has been introduced by the Tenerife Island Council, with the aim of creating a unified framework for collaboration among key educational stakeholders to foster a more sustainable island.
A meeting took place on Friday between the Councillor for the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, the Island Director for the Natural Environment, Pedro Millán, technicians from the Cabildo, and experts to outline the primary sociograms and design the participatory process involving various island-level agents.
Pérez stated in a release that “The Tenerife Island Council was a pioneer in the Canary Islands when it launched the Tenerife Island Plan for Environmental Education 25 years ago” and that the current strategy is being developed based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN.”
Pérez further elaborated that “the strategy aims to have a comprehensive, island-wide scope,” with the participation of all key social actors including institutions, formal educational institutions, educators, non-formal educational organizations, as well as business and civil society entities.
On the other hand, Pedro Millán, the island’s director of the Natural Environment, highlighted that “environmental issues are inherently social and economic challenges” and stressed the importance of “a new vision of education as a catalyst for global improvement.”
“Education should not only be seen as a means to enhance the environment, but also to address the social, cultural, economic, and environmental obstacles we face. Hence, the development of a strategy for the island of Tenerife is crucial,” he added.
The Education for Sustainability Strategy will encompass operational pillars, measures, and actions to be implemented in Tenerife concerning environmental education for sustainability, providing a common framework for all key stakeholders.
The strategy will be valid for a five-year period post-approval, with detailed annual work plans for each year specifying actions and funding details.
Actions included in the Education for Sustainability Strategy consist of conducting a participatory assessment of environmental education initiatives for sustainability involving key societal sectors in Tenerife, as well as crafting the document and action plan, which are currently in progress.
In the initial weeks of July, several meetings will be conducted with expert groups, and the launch of the directory of key agents and resources for the Education for Sustainability Strategy will take place, followed by a series of conferences in October to present the advancements.
