Equipping the next generation for the global challenges ahead means actively reassessing our thinking, behaviours, and core values to ensure that equity, sustainability and environmental awareness lie at the heart of education. On November 16th, Edge and Schools of Tomorrow hosted the annual Sustainable Education Summit in Coventry. Providing a collaborative platform for school leaders and student activists from their schools to join hands, the event aimed to cultivate revolutionary mindsets in education while offering practical insights for implementing frontline change. Here is a taste of what our two international keynote speakers had to say.
Mickey Gjerris: Hope as the Engine of Change
Associate Professor of Bioethics at the University of Copenhagen (UPCH), Mickey Gjerris, confronted the stark reality of the ecological crises we face, from climate change to biodiversity loss and pollution. Underscoring some alarming statistics, such as record-high greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, he noted the familiar despondency stemming from the so-called 'permacrisis'. Anxiety, he argued, risks extinguishing joy in life, leaving only a sense of resignation and subsequent lack of motivation to act.
Furthermore, over the past five decades, global politics has prioritised economic growth over social and environmental concerns, shaping even the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. While there are efforts to move towards so-called ‘ecological modernisation’, Gjerris challenged this concept’s core assumption that we can decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. There is no empirical evidence to support this.
Beyond frontline policymaking, international surveys also indicate widespread public disillusionment with government efforts to tackle climate change, further contributing to anxiety among the young. The challenge for educators and parents, then, is how to convey the severity of the situation while embedding a sense of responsibility and optimism in future generations.
Gjerris argued that the starting point is to contemplate definitions of sustainability. Partly, this would expose the greenwashing commonly associated with the term, promoting crucial critical thinking. However, he also questioned the often woolly-worded goals linked to sustainable development, such as the distinction between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ in a hyper-consumerist society and why development invariably implies economic but never spiritual growth.
To solve the problem we must depart from our anthropocentric definition of sustainability towards an ecocentric mindset, where humanity belongs to a broader planetary community.
Sustainable education should, therefore, encourage future generations to embrace a meaningful life filled with the joy of nature and a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. Achieving this, Gjerris argued, would do the next generation a significant service.
Alba Brandt: Inspiration and practical ideas for your school
Following this striking introduction, the spotlight shifted to Alba Brandt, a former management consultant turned sustainable education leader. After six months with her young family at a Green School in Bali, Alma and her husband returned to South Africa to found an award-winning Green School. This involved finding land and constructing the school – a feat in itself – but also the continuing process of learning about and implementing complex systems that deliver inspirational educational experiences.
The challenges of building a school aligned with the Living Future Standard were just the start. Ongoing practicalities were the real challenge. However, Brandt outlined that a commitment to sustainability across five elements of the school's offering shapes its approach: the physical environment, operations, curriculum, community, and impact.
In terms of the physical environment the school aspires to be a fully regenerative campus, exemplified by its goal to produce 105% of its energy and use less water than it naturally obtains through rainfall. Its support of endemic biodiversity and allocation of 50% of the campus to food production also demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainability. The goal is to provide a net contribution to the local ecosystem rather than merely minimising environmental impact.
Operationally, the school takes ownership of its water, sewage and treatment facilities while using solar panels and batteries for sustainable energy. They source sustainable suppliers and have established closed-loop systems for food and plastic waste. This not only reduces landfill waste but promotes circular economy thinking among students.
In terms of curriculum, the school embeds sustainability early, gradually developing student understanding of how sustainability impacts society. During early years, this mainly involves pupils exploring and discovering the joy of nature. They soon progress to small, controlled challenges that promote critical thinking (such as choosing between ice cream in an edible cone or a plastic tub). As they grow, students start to address broader, campus-wide problems, before finally exploring national and international environmental issues in high school.
Finally, the school’s commitment to the community and impact extends beyond students, to include teachers, parents, operational teams, and even suppliers.
They regularly collaborate with other schools to promote sustainability best practice and actively participate in community projects via the Green School Trust. By celebrating its sustainability efforts at conferences, the Green School is contributing to a broader sustainable education movement.
This summit was more than a gathering of minds but a resonating call to action and a reminder that sustainable education is not a nice-to-have 'add-on' but must be delivered with clear intent. The discussions led by Mickey Gjerris and Alba Brandt reminded us, in no uncertain terms, that to prepare the next generation for the future we must not only embrace sustainable practices but foster a mindset that repositions humanity’s relationship to nature. You can watch the guest speakers' full inspiring presentations here.
The Sustainable Education Summit 2023 was chaired by Malcolm Groves, National Director of Schools of Tomorrow. It was hosted by Schools of Tomorrow and the Edge Foundation.