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Planetary Education

Essential Common Knowledge for the 21st Century and Beyond

Planetary Education is a comprehensive, transdisciplinary educational approach that fosters a holistic understanding of the world and nurtures empathy, resilience, and adaptability in students, with the goal of equipping them to effectively address global challenges and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Imagine a world where the education system is transformed to address the global challenges we face today through a heightened focus on planetary understanding and justice, preparing students to adapt, cooperate and thrive in the Anthropocene. Planetary Education, combining a broad understanding of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts with a comprehensive understanding of Earth's natural systems and human societies, nurtures empathy, resilience, and adaptability in students, equipping them to effectively contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Imagine all schools evolving into model institutions, sharing best practices and cutting-edge knowledge with children from a young age. In this vision, students of all backgrounds would have access to this fundamental knowledge, tailored to their unique contexts and established as a cornerstone of their education.

Bringing this vision to life will require reforms on multiple levels.

1. Revamping the Education System
   Firstly, the education system itself must rise to meet global challenges by weaving planetary understanding and Liberal Arts principles into the fabric of all learnings, creating a new curriculum that is applicable to all levels. It involves the transformation of current course structures and the introduction of comprehensive interdisciplinary studies that give weight to our place within the global ecosystem.

2. Transforming School Practices
   Secondly, individual schools must evolve their practices to be more attuned to the planet. This could mean the integration of school gardens and innovative pedagogical approaches into every classroom, fostering direct connections with nature and hands-on learning experiences that enrich students' understanding of the world.

3. Empowering Future Educators
   Thirdly, the preparation of future teachers must incorporate these principles. We need to empower our educators with the knowledge and tools to impart Planetary Education, creating a generation of teachers who can instill in their students a deep understanding of our world and our shared responsibility to safeguard it.

Earth and Empathy

Planetary Education is built upon a dual-foundation strategy — Earth and Empathy.

The 'Earth' pillar engenders a deep understanding of our planet and its life systems, encompassing concepts of environmental emergencies and stewardship. It encourages awareness and responsibility towards the preservation of our shared home, equipping students to confront and address ecological challenges.

'Empathy', the second pillar, cultivates essential values for collaboration and coexistence. It fosters intercultural understanding, respect for past and future generations, compassion for all life forms, and a strong sense of justice and equity. It aims to nurture students into compassionate, fair, and globally-minded individuals.

Key concepts and ideas:

• Foundational understanding of the world

  Establishing a basic knowledge of Earth's natural processes, human societies, and their interactions.

• Age-appropriate subject introduction

  Introducing students to various subjects in a manner that is suitable and engaging for their developmental stage.

• Gradual progression to complex topics

  Building on prior knowledge to explore increasingly intricate concepts and ideas over time.

• Transdisciplinary learning

  Encouraging connections between different subject areas to foster a holistic understanding of the world.

• Experiential learning

  Facilitating hands-on experiences that enable students to apply and internalise their knowledge in real-world situations.

• Liberal Arts

  An interdisciplinary educational approach that integrates humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts.

The curriculum begins with core ideas that ignite curiosity and gradually introduces age-appropriate subjects, such as:

• Basic Scientific Concepts

  Introducing fundamental ideas and principles that underpin scientific inquiry and understanding.

• Value Systems and Worldviews

  Exploring diverse cultural perspectives and ethical frameworks that shape human beliefs and actions.

• Contemporary Global Change

  Examining the current trends and challenges affecting our planet, including climate change, socioeconomic shifts, and technological advancements.

• Environmental Responsibility

  Fostering awareness of the human impact on the environment and promoting sustainable practices for a healthier planet.

• Dimensions of Problem-Solving

  Developing versatile, multidimensional approaches to address complex issues and achieve effective solutions.

As students advance, the curriculum delves into more intricate topics, empowering them to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy.

Students engage in interdisciplinary learning, linking ideas from diverse domains such as:

• Natural & Social Sciences

  Investigating the underlying principles of the natural world and human societies through empirical research and analysis.

• Humanities

  Delving into the study of human culture, history, and thought to better understand the human experience.

• Arts & Storytelling

  Encouraging creative expression and communication through various artistic mediums and narrative forms.

• Technologies

  Exploring the development, impact, and application of technological innovations in shaping our world and daily lives.

Overview

Planetary Education stands at the forefront as an innovative pedagogical strategy. Rooted in empathy, resilience, and adaptability, it cultivates students to navigate the complexities of our shared global challenges. Centred around two pillars, Earth and Empathy, it fosters a sense of planetary stewardship and intercultural understanding.

The curriculum of Planetary Education is highly adaptive and dynamic, thoughtfully structured to cater to the intellectual and emotional progression of students. Starting with age-appropriate topics, it carefully guides students towards the comprehension and analysis of intricate global issues. Its distinctive emphasis lies in experiential learning, which invites students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations and promote tangible learning outcomes.

Planetary Education also underscores the importance of systems thinking, global citizenship, and sustainability as critical skills for the future. It seamlessly integrates critical subjects such as Big History and global perspectives to provide a holistic and comprehensive educational experience.

By fostering critical thinking, honing problem-solving skills, and nurturing ethical values, Planetary Education equips students to become active participants in their communities, and eventually, influential leaders and changemakers. In essence, Planetary Education does not just prepare students for higher education, but it empowers them to shape a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Integrating the
Nature Futures Framework

The Nature Futures Framework is a tool developed by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to explore diverse visions of the future that are positive for both nature and people. It is based on the understanding that our relationship with nature is multifaceted and that different people value nature in different ways. The framework identifies three main ways in which people value nature: Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture.

In the context of planetary education, the Nature Futures Framework can guide the development of curricula that reflect these diverse values. It can help educators to teach students about the importance of biodiversity, the benefits that nature provides to society, and the ways in which nature and culture are intertwined. It can also help students to understand the need for a balance between preserving nature for its intrinsic worth and managing it for societal benefits.

Merging the 6 original narratives into a 7th one, which we've called “Unity”, offers a compelling vision for a future that integrates the best aspects of all worlds. By drawing from each narrative, we can co-create a society that respects the intrinsic value of nature (as in "Sanctuary"), harnesses its benefits for societal good (as in "Resource"), and sees nature and culture as inseparable (as in "Heritage"). This integrated approach allows us to balance conservation with sustainable use (as in "Balance"), value nature as an integral part of culture (as in "Preserve"), and guide the sustainable use of nature's resources with traditional ecological knowledge (as in "Harmony"). "Unity" thus offers a more holistic, balanced, and sustainable vision for the future.

Climate Education

Rationale

1. Teaching climate change to all students is essential, as this phenomenon shapes their world and will profoundly impact their lives.

2. Students of all ages should engage in climate-related education (and Planetary Education in general). Mandatory lessons should be implemented in all schools, with content evolving to suit students' intellectual and emotional development. For instance, complex aspects of climate justice, impacts, and science should be presented more simply and allegorically to an 8-year-old than to a 15-year-old.

3. Although related, teaching climate change should be distinguished from teaching science. Climate change is an all-encompassing reality that demands a multidisciplinary approach to pedagogy, utilizing the full range of educational techniques and materials available in modern classrooms.

4. This course should be universal, adaptable to all cultural and linguistic contexts (e.g., Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand). To achieve universality, it should be based on the IPCC reports, the most consensual and non-partisan knowledge base on climate change. This principle made the youth climate strike movement powerful: "Don't listen to us, listen to science."

5. Ultimately, this course should serve as a unifying core of Earth Education, connecting to subjects such as English, geography, history, maths, physics, philosophy, humanities, and sociology.

6. Based on IPCC's Working Groups, this course should cover:

   • WGI: What is climate and climate change (science, models, observations)

   • WGII: How people and society are affected (impacts, adaptation, vulnerability)

   • WGIII: What can we do, individually and collectively (mitigation & solutions)

7. The societal transformation required to address climate change is unprecedented, presenting both an immense challenge and an extraordinary opportunity to redefine our shared world. Youths worldwide will play a central role in this collective and collaborative transformation. Therefore, climate education must intentionally foster prosocial worldviews, emphasizing elements such as civic education, planetary citizenship, global identity, transgenerational justice, international solidarity, cooperation, coordination, empathy, and wisdom.

Proposal

Rather than waiting for the Ministry of Education to develop an optional high school-level course on climate science, we will establish a working group on climate education and coordinate its activities to design a climate course that addresses this critical issue. We plan to run a pilot project in schools throughout the Wellington region. Our vision is to mainstream the course and have it offered in all schools across New Zealand within two years.

To achieve this, we need to form a coalition, secure seed funding, and move swiftly. We are future-focused disruptors, challenging the status quo because we recognize that we are not changing fast enough according to the best science. We believe that the education sector must rise to meet this pivotal moment in our civilization and play a vital role. The youth are requesting this from us.

Case Study 01: Elementary Education

· Earth Explorers ·

A Primary School Curriculum for Planetary Education

This curriculum aims to educate primary school students about our shared home, Earth, in an age-appropriate and engaging way. It will introduce key concepts through hands-on activities, storytelling, and interactive lessons, fostering a sense of belonging to Earth and promoting global citizenship.

Unit 1: Our Journey Through Time

1. The story of the Universe: From the Big Bang to today

2. Earth's History: A voyage through time

3. The History of Life: From tiny cells to giant dinosaurs

4. Human History: A timeline of our achievements

Unit 2: Earth's Wonders

1. Introduction to Earth: Our home in the universe

2. Exploring Earth's diverse landscapes and biomes

3. The Water Cycle: Journey of a raindrop

4. The Carbon Cycle: The breath of our planet

5. Biodiversity Treasure Hunt: Discovering the richness of life

Unit 3: Weather, Climate, and Seasons

1. Understanding weather and climate

2. Investigating the four seasons

3. Climate Change: A tale of warmer days

4. Exploring the impact of climate change on animals and plants

5. Climate Heroes: People and organisations making a difference

Unit 4: Humans and the Environment

1. The Story of Human Evolution

2. The Agricultural Revolution: The birth of farming

3. The Industrial Revolution: Factories, cities, and inventions

4. The impact of human activities on the environment

5. Conservation success stories: Saving endangered species

Unit 5: Caring for Our Planet

1. The 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2. Sustainable living: Green choices at home and school

3. Renewable energy: Harnessing the power of nature

4. Clean water and sanitation: Protecting our most precious resource

5. Planting for the future: Trees, gardens, and habitats

Unit 6: Resilience and Adaptation

1. What is resilience? Learning from nature

2. Adapting to change: Animal and plant examples

3. Building resilient communities: How people prepare for challenges

4. Creative problem-solving: Inventions for a sustainable future

Unit 7: Connecting with the World

1. The Earth's Diverse Cultures: Celebrating our differences

2. Global Citizenship: Caring for our shared home

3. Cooperation and Teamwork: Tackling global challenges together

4. Empathy and Understanding: Making friends around the world

Unit 8: Earth Stewardship and Action

1. Becoming Earth Stewards: Our role in protecting the planet

2. Small Actions, Big Impacts: Everyday choices that make a difference

3. Community Action: Working together for a cleaner, greener world

4. Earth Explorer Projects: Students create their own sustainability initiatives

Case Study 2: Secondary Education

· Planetary Pioneers: Charting a Course through Global Challenges ·

A High School Curriculum for Planetary Education

Description

This indispensable high school-level course offers a comprehensive approach to addressing global challenges by combining innovative methods with a diverse range of disciplines, including natural and social sciences, engineering, arts, and humanities. The well-rounded curriculum enables students to gain a profound understanding of planetary systems while fostering empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. The course emphasises the value of experiential learning, constructive dialogues, and collaborative problem-solving to cultivate a more sustainable and equitable world. Through this inclusive and well-founded educational approach, students are empowered to become effective agents of change.

1· Trailblazing Interdisciplinary Perspectives

• Uniting unconventional disciplines to address global issues

• Harnessing the power of collective intelligence

• Exploring non-traditional perspectives on global challenges

• Identifying synergies between seemingly unrelated fields

• Nurturing transdisciplinary problem-solving abilities

2· Advanced Systems Thinking and Earth System Science

• Exploring cutting-edge Earth system models and simulations

• Integrating complexity science into systems thinking

• Assessing cascading impacts and feedback loops in socio-ecological systems

• Investigating emergent properties and tipping points

• Understanding Earth system resilience and adaptability

3· Radical Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship

• Examining revolutionary approaches to sustainable development

• Exploring regenerative design and biomimicry

• Envisioning a post-growth society

• Challenging current consumption patterns and lifestyles

• Investigating the potential for large-scale ecosystem restoration

4· Global Citizenship and Transformative Social Responsibility

• Redefining global citizenship for the 21st century

• Promoting intergenerational and interspecies equity

• Developing empathy through immersive experiences

• Advocating for social and environmental justice

• Cultivating radical compassion and interconnectedness

5· Climate Change and Planetary Boundaries 2.0

• Exploring innovative climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions

• Harnessing the potential of geoengineering and negative emissions technologies

• Evaluating the implications of crossing planetary boundaries

• Investigating potential future scenarios for Earth's systems

• Exploring transformative resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges

6· Frontier Technology, Innovation, and Ethics

• Investigating disruptive technologies and their potential impact on global challenges

• Exploring the ethical implications of advanced technologies, such as AI, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology

• Promoting responsible and inclusive innovation

• Evaluating the role of technology in shaping future societies

• Balancing technological progress with planetary boundaries

7· Cultivating Planetary Sapience: Intercultural Dialogues and Transgenerational Thinking

• Engaging in intercultural dialogues to bridge cultural divides

• Learning from diverse historical perspectives and indigenous wisdom

• Understanding the importance of transgenerational thinking for sustainable futures

• Analyzing the role of planetary sapience and intelligence in addressing global challenges

• Encouraging collaborative learning across cultures, generations, and disciplines

8· Action and Advocacy for a Sustainable and Just Future

• Creating visionary scenarios for sustainable and just societies

• Developing skills for effective advocacy and activism

• Exploring the role of art, storytelling, and media in driving societal transformation

• Engaging with local and global initiatives for sustainability

• Cultivating a sense of agency and personal responsibility for planetary stewardship

Structure

• Duration: One semester (15 weeks)

• Format: Interactive lectures, immersive workshops, creative labs, guest speakers, field trips, and hands-on projects

• Assessment: Innovative assignments, collaborative projects, presentations, reflective essays, and a final capstone project

This cutting-edge curriculum provides students with an unparalleled educational experience, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to challenge the status quo and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and just world.