Education for sustainable development: what does it mean for legal education?

In this article from the Autumn 2006 issue of Directions Tracey Varnava (UKCLE Associate Director) introduces the concept of sustainability literacy and UKCLE’s Developing global citizens through legal education project.

Some background

In March 2005 Tony Blair launched the UK government’s sustainable development strategy Securing the future (Cm 6467). This document set out the need for all education sectors to promote the concept of ‘sustainability literacy’ among their students. In conjunction with this strategy the government and devolved administrations launched a joint strategic framework, One future: different paths, which acknowledges common challenges and goals while promoting diverse approaches.

In Wales the commitment to sustainability and global citizenship is widespread throughout every level of Welsh higher education provision, from funding bodies such as Welsh Assembly Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to the teaching and research institutions themselves – see the higher education section of the Education for Sustainable Development & Global Citizenship website for further details.

In Scotland the Executive is working with the Funding Council to assess how extensively sustainable development topics are embedded into the curriculum in colleges and universities and is working with the Higher Education Academy on delivering change in teaching and learning on this challenging cross-disciplinary topic.

In England the Higher Education Funding Council has published a statement of policy on sustainable development in higher education following consultation with the sector. Broad consensus was reached around building on existing activity to share good practice and develop capacity, which will primarily be facilitated through the Higher Education Academy.

But what is sustainability literacy?

The concept of sustainability literacy, as developed by the UK-based Forum for the Future’s report Sustainability literacy: knowledge and skills for the future, suggests that a sustainability literate person is someone who combines an understanding of the need for change with appropriate knowledge and skills, and is able to recognise and reward sustainable actions in others. Sustainability literacy is seen by its proponents as important for employability, effective professionalism, economic performance and social wellbeing.

What does this mean for the law curriculum?

Law graduates are well represented at senior levels in government, business and the legal profession. They are involved in determining rights and responsibilities, what is enforceable, and what is just. Those trained in the law influence and shape the development of all aspects of society – not least those which relate to the development of a sustainable future for all. There is a good case therefore for embracing the education for sustainable development (ESD) agenda, if only as an additional dimension to exploring the curriculum and making it relevant to societal concerns. The skills needed to deliver sustainable development are generic, but it can be argued that the law curriculum is particularly well suited to their development since they include critical thinking, strong communication skills, negotiation and consensus building, the ability to design a strategic vision, and conflict resolution. It is not the case therefore that ESD will add to an already demanding curriculum – it offers a different lens through which to view the application and practice of law and legal principles.

What UKCLE is doing

The Centre will seek to encourage new perspectives across the curriculum on how students can be challenged, enthused and engaged by their law studies through the introduction of sustainability issues. As ever, we will be encouraging an inclusive approach which encompasses a range of viewpoints, and will seek to support a variety of approaches to working with the ESD agenda, rather than promoting particular models or methods. To support this work we have recently been awarded funding for a project exploring the concept of sustainability literacy – see Developing global citizens through legal education for more information.

Last Modified: 9 July 2010