What is SEEd?
Sustainability and Environmental Education (SEEd) is a registered charity that identifies, promotes, enables and supports environmental education and education for sustainable development in the UK. SEEd is recognized as a key national driver of sustainable education by UNESCO as part of the Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and are also the lead organization for the Sustainable Schools Alliance formed to continue the work of sustainable schools now that government is no longer supporting the national framework. However, the Government endorses our work as can be seen in the Natural Environment White Paper published by the government in June 2011.
What are the benefits of ESD?
- Promotes responsible behavior to become informed and actively responsible citizens.
- Encourages them to think creatively and problem-solve.
- Students learn to care for themselves, others and their surrounding community and environment
- Empowers students to start to take responsibility and shape their own future.
- Reduces school energy, waste and water bills
- Reduces schools ecological footprint
ESD improves teaching and learning by providing a meaningful, real-world focus which young people recognise as significant for their lives, thus enhancing school relevance, and supporting engagement and enjoyment. This has led to:
- More positive attitudes to learning,
- Better behaviour and attendance
- Improved standards and achievements
- Increase in knowledge and understanding of the importance of leading more sustainable lives.
SEEd is a national membership organization seeking to embed sustainability into mainstream education in a variety of ways. For more information on SEEd events, projects, contacts and membership, please click here.
