Education for a Sustainable Future and a Greener Economy Debra Rowe, Ph.D. Professor

1. Education for a Sustainable Future and a Greener Economy Debra Rowe, Ph.D. Professor Sustainable Energies and Behavioral Sciences President U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development

2. Part I What are green jobs? • Part II What is education for a green and sustainable future? • Part III What are our sustainability challenges? • Part IV National Trends • Part V Solutions and Resources for you!

3. How Many Green Jobs? Starting with the obvious green jobs. • The Solar Energy Industries Association, estimates that 110,000 jobs will be created in solar energy by the end of next year • The American Wind Energy Association estimates that if the industry meets President Obama's goal of doubling renewable energy output in the next three years, the wind sector will create 185,000 jobs in that time period • But that’s the tip of the iceberg Thanks to Carolyn Teich, AACC, for some materials in this slide

4. Partial list of green jobs: the obvious choices Traditionally, community college, career and technical education, and even the National Science Foundation focus on technicians: • Energy auditor • Wind energy technician • Insulation and weatherization technician • Photovoltaics (solar electricity) installer • Thermal solar installer (hot water and space heating and pool heating)

5. Upstream green jobs: jobs needed before technicians get hired • Energy/utility policy analysts and policy makers • Employees in state and local energy related offices • Energy efficiency and renewable energy products financiers, manufacturers, distributors, and salespeople • HVAC and other contractors with energy efficiency and renewables expertise/product line • Energy Service Company (ESCO) employees • Corporate social responsibility officer • Sustainability oriented purchasing agent and business VP • Energy manager • Facilities director

6. Partial list of green jobs: some of the less obvious choices • Resource conservation/efficiency manager • Measurement and verification technician • Material scientist • Environmental engineer technician • Biomass plant designer, manager, technician • Utility plant operatives • HVAC/ building automation technician controls specialist • Refuse and recycling worker • Sustainable agriculture specialist • Groundwater heat pump contractor/installer • Wave power system designer/installer • Forestry & wildlife worker

7. Partial list of green jobs: some of the less obvious choices • Hydrogen, batteries and other energy storage specialists • Water reservoir and watershed engineer • Green building designer • Heating/cooling/ventilation scientist and engineer • Construction worker with green installation expertise • Lead paint/asbestos abatement specialist • Electrical technician • Energy statistician • Recycling director • Environmental maintenance worker • Greenhouse gas analyst/broker

8. Partial list of green jobs: some of the less obvious choices • Industrial engineer • Engineering manager • Green products distribution designer/manager • Sales and marketing staff for sustainable products • Brownfields real estate developer • Sustainable business process designer • Corporate recycling manager • Environmental economist • Sustainability entrepreneur • Environment, health and safety director • Environmental quality certification specialist • Geographic information systems specialist

9. Partial list of green jobs: some of the less obvious choices • Hazardous materials handler • Sustainable operation manager/consultant • Socially responsible investment advisor • Sustainability officer • Trainer/educator for green jobs • Sustainability communications/marketing • Fostering sustainable neighborhoods project manager • Environmental journalist • Permaculture designer and contractor • Sustainable landscape architect • Natural resources manager • Sustainable communities planner

10. Partial list of green jobs: some of the less obvious choices • Sustainable development policy analyst • Groundwater professional • Restoration ecologist • Climate change risk assessor and mitigation professional • Sustainable transportation planner • Water pollution control technician • Watershed manager • Wildlife biologist • Agricultural extension specialist • Environmental communications specialist • Environmental conflict manager • Power purchase negotiator

11. What is a green job?A limited but still helpful view below • The Department of Labor recently tagged over 100 occupations in the O*NET database as being green occupations.  http://online.onetcenter.org/find/green .  • Browse by the 12 identified green economy sectors: • Agriculture and Forestry; • Energy and Carbon Capture and Storage; • Energy Efficiency; Energy Storage; Environment Protection; • Government and Regulatory Administration; • Green Construction; Manufacturing;  • Recycling and Waste Reduction; • Renewable Energy Generation; • Research, Design and Consulting Services; • Transportation.   

12. What is a green job?The Department of Labor categorizes green jobs into one of the following: • Green increased demand occupations: increase in the employment demand for an existing occupation. 64 occupations meet this definition. • Green enhanced skills occupations: significant change to the work and worker requirements of an existing occupation. 60 occupations meet this definition. • Green new and emerging occupations: generation of a new occupation relative to the O*NET taxonomy. This new occupation could be entirely novel or “born” from an existing occupation. 45 occupations qualify with another 46 occupations identified as candidates • The O*NET green center has a wealth of “green” resources.

13. The Pervasiveness of Green • SOC listings are incomplete, although nearly 900 distinct occupations are identified • Every job will have a green tinge to it, since energy waste, toxins, food chain disruption and ecosystem destruction will be costly and unacceptable, IF we pay attention! • Predicting employment? Follow the money and help create the businesses

14. Certifications and Needs Assessments • I have multiple pages of certifications – how do you know which ones will emerge as the standards? • The marketplace is moving quickly, including: • new initiatives that create new workforce demands • new standards • Great to see the movement but difficult to design for – need to design flexible degrees! • Example: Recovery Through Retrofits, Major federal initiative for retrofits of middle class homes for energy efficiency, including national workforce standards and removal of financing bottlenecks - http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Recovery_Through_Retrofit_Final_Report.pdf

16. Overwhelmed by all the details? Take a more conceptual and systemic approach. This will create more success in educating for a green and sustainable economy

17. “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” World Commission on Env. and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press. Sustainable Development is often defined as:

18. Social Well-being Flourishing Environment Strong Economy Sustainable Society Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability

19. Education for a Sustainable Society:“enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions …, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.”

20. Ecosystem Ecosystem Sustainable Communities Public Choices and Behaviors-Laws Applied Knowledge/ Technological Skills Private Choices and Behaviors-Habits Sustainable Economies Ecosystem Ecosystem

21. Why is environmental responsibility such a high priority? • Freshwater withdrawal has almost doubled since 1960 and nearly half the world’s major rivers are going dry or are badly polluted (New Internationalist, no. 329) • 11 of the world’s 15 major fishing areas and 69% of the world’s major fish species are in decline (State of the World, Worldwatch Institute) • Climate change (global warming) exists, a major culprit is fossil fuels, and impacts are very serious. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change)

22. Disruption of food production and the food chain More extreme weather events Disruptions of ecosystems, including water supplies Spread of disease e.g. West Nile, Malaria, Dengue Fever Submersion of land masses – sea level rise 50% of world’s population lives on the coasts = Civilization Disruption and National Security Threat Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, NASA, and National Defense University Effects -Climate Change

23. Why is Climate Change Important? It is outside of the normal variability of climate. We are the first generation capable of determining the habitability of the planet for humans and other species. The decisions of this generation are crucial. 

24. Why climate change and other environmental Issues are so important Our decisions will create: more scarcity and suffering, or a future of greater abundance and higher quality of life

25. Global Perspective life supporting resources declining consumption of life supporting resources rising

26. Why is EFS such a high priority? • Much of the public doesn’t know that we are exceeding the carrying capacity of the planet and that if everyone lives like we do in the U.S., we will need 4 to 6 planets of resources. • Public doesn’t know we can reduce human suffering and environmental degradation now while building stronger economies • A rapid shift in mindset is needed andeducation to action is the key.

27. Read Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester Brown, founder of Worldwatch Institute Explains how to get to sustainable clean energy solutions, sustainable practices and policies, poverty reduction, and economic health, and what each of us can/needs to do Downloadable at www.earth-policy.org Great sections to include in any course – actions near the end

28. U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development: Convene, Catalyze and Communicatewww.uspartnership.org –free resources Sector Teams: Business, Higher Education, K-12, Communities, Faith, Youth…

29. Business principles of sustainability: • Cradle to Cradle (McDonough) • Biomimicry (Benyas – Like nature, efficient and not toxic) • World Business Council for Sustainable Development (www.wbcsd.org) • Natural Step (Sweden and U.S.) • Natural Capitalism (Lovins, Harvard Business Review) • More accurate economic indicators and markets – Hazel Henderson

30. Trends in sectors – some examples • Business – LOHAS - Japan, SOL Sustainability Consortium, Businesses for Social Responsibility, Shareholders, Investors (e.g. Goldman Sachs and Swiss RE) • Communities - Mayors Climate Protection and Smart Growth, Sustainable Communities Partnerships, Coalitions, Community Planning • K-12 – U.S. Summit and collaboration, national webinars and resources • Faith - Religious Partnership and Interfaith Alliance, Regeneration Project • Youth – Climate Challenge, Reduce Your Impact, Action Campaigns, Powershift, National Teach-in…

31. Higher education is taking a leadership role to prepare students and provide the information and knowledge to achieve a sustainable society. What does it look like?

32. legislation public awareness Curricula Research For higher education, Sustainable Development is being integrated into: Mission and Planning Operations Purchasing CommunityOutreach and Partnerships Professional Development Student Life

33. Internationally, a taste… • In Sweden, it is a law that all undergraduates be educated about sustainability • High priority in higher education principles in European Union • U.N. Decade and other ESD international conferences in Mexico, Bonn Declaration • Earth Charter in Costa Rica – vision • Association of Canadian Community Colleges • Global Sustainability Group out of MIT • Japanese campaign for sustainable living as patriotism

34. GREAT NEWS!!!Growing National Trend in U.S.:Over seventeen national HE associations and twenty national disciplinary associations are creating initiatives on Education for Green and Sustainable

35. Committed to the advancement of sustainability throughout higher education

36. AACCAmerican Association of Community Colleges AASCUAmerican Association of State Colleges & Universities AASHEAssociation for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ACCED-IAssociation of Collegiate Conference & Events Directors - International ACEAmerican Council on Education ACPACollege Student Educators International ACUHO-IAssociation of College & University Housing Officers International AGBAssociation of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges APPAAssociation of Higher Education Facilities Officers CCCUCouncil of Christian Colleges & Universities NACANational Association for Campus Activities NACUBONational Association of College & University Business Officers NAEPNational Association of Educational Procurement NAICUNational Association of Independent Colleges & Universities NIRSANational Intramural-Recreational Sports Association SCUPSociety for College & University Planning

37. Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium www.aashe.org/heasc • Presidents • Academic Officers • Student Affairs • Trustees • Campus Activities • Facilities • Business Officers • Planners • Events Directors • Recreation Directors • Purchasers • More….. On campus Sustainability Committees

38. Resources • Higher Education Sustainability Fellows Programs • HEASC News Digest and shared publications • HEASC Resource Center - Socially, economically and environmentally responsible procurement, operations, planning, leadership, learning outcomes and more!! • Media Strategies for Sustainability • Informing Legislation

39. DANS – the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability www.aashe.org/dans - click on ResourcesInclude this in all disciplines and gen ed • American Psychological Association • Sociology • Religion • Philosophy • Math • Broadcasting • Architecture • Engineering (civil, mechanical, eng. ed.) • Business • Ecological Economics • Chemistry • Biology • American Association for the Advancement of Science • Computer Research • Humanities • STEM disciplines • Political Science • Anthropology • More…

40. Academic Disciplines and U. S. Partnership created DANS Infusing green/sustainability into: • Curricula, including textbooks • Promotion and tenure and accreditation • Informing legislation and policy • Informing the public • Professional identity as an academic See the resources at www.aashe.org/dans

41. AACC Actions Board • AACC Resolution on Sustainable Development • AACC Resolution in Support of the U.N. Decade of Education for Sustainable Development • Sustainability Task Force Collaborations: • HEASC • AASHE - Sustainability Tracking and Rating System • Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) • Green for All – Pathways Out of Poverty Models • National Wildlife Federation – Educational Webinars • EcoAmerica - Database

42. AACC Actions (continued) • Workforce Preparation for a Sustainable Economy theme at next AACC Convention • 4 HEASC Sustainability Fellows • Community College Journal and Times publications • Community College Monthly Conference Calls – join us! • Members informing legislators • Web site – www.aacc.nche.edu/sustainable and upcoming Sustainable Economy Resource Center • Sustainability Affinity Group of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics - http://wfcp.accc.ca/

43. Climate Leadership in Higher Education Over 650 presidents in all 50 states The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

44. Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability – very good!! Energy Performance Contracting Toolkit ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol ACUPCC Climate Action Planning Wiki ACUPCC Reporting Tool ACUPCC Implementation Guide ACUPCC GHG Inventory Brief ACUPCC Webinar Series ACUPCC Solutions Page (includes links to further resources) Resources (for presidents, students and you!)

45. So many examples at so many colleges! Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher EducationAASHE (AY-shee) www.aashe.org Sign up for the free bulletin Search the extensive resources and the digest Join as an institution

46. HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org Annual Digest • Systemic integration • Georgia Tech • University of North Carolina • Arizona State • Moraine Valley Community College…. • Transportation • UC Boulder • Many community colleges

47. HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org Annual Digest • Green Computing • League for Innovation • Educause • Food • Marshalltown, Seattle… CC Organic Gardens • Yale • Institutionalization in job descriptions and performance reviews • From Cornell to Lane Community College

48. HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org Annual Digest • Energy Conservation, Renewable Energies & Climate Change – Modeling solutions • Over 400 greenhouse gas inventories completed • University of Minnesota Morris – wind power and biomass • Turtle Mtn CC - wind • At least 11 campuses installed or announced plans to install more than 1 MW each of solar energy in 2008, including Contra Costa Community College District (CA) • Los Angeles Comm College District!! – funding models to go all conservation and renewables with community purchasing.

49. HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org Annual Digest • Green Building • Built into all bid requests • So many examples, from Maricopa colleges to… • Socially and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing • Rutgers, Stanford, OCC • Waste Minimization • 400 colleges in RecycleMania

50. A more comprehensive way of looking at education in the green economy • Everyone interacts with the planet and the ecosystems we depend upon for life • Everyone has an important role to play in helping to create a sustainable future • Some of the most crucial jobs in green haven’t been created yet • Not just green jobs, but green thinking • Green thinking, systems thinking, creating effective change • Including and also much greater than technicians • Community colleges have a unique and important role that requires new actions.