Sustainable development is a task for society as a whole that safeguards the quality of life of current and future generations. Education and communication are a fundamental prerequisite for the success of necessary transformation processes that aim to permanently change unsustainable ways of life and economic systems.
Formal and informal educational programs are supplemented by communication formats
Education is often only associated with school, training, university or further vocational training, i.e. with formal education. In addition to these controlled educational programs, which are usually linked to personal placement, informal educational opportunities are becoming increasingly important. Informal education is to be understood as self-directed learning that is not in competition with, but closely linked to leisure, vacation and recreation. Finally, formal and informal educational offerings are supplemented by communication formats that are geared towards addressing broad target groups. In addition to traditional media such as print, film, radio and television, newer media formats such as podcasts, social media platforms and blogs also play an important role in communicating sustainability issues.
Empowering all age groups to think and act sustainably for the future
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to empower people of all ages to think and act in a future-oriented, sustainable way and to enable them to better understand the impact of their own actions on the world. It promotes the willingness to take responsibility for one’s own actions, to deal with uncertainties and contradictions and to solve problems. The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) promotes the teaching of relevant skills in order to establish awareness and action within the framework of education for sustainable development. In this way, the DBU creates the conditions for shaping a sustainable society.
DBU’s goal: to anchor sustainability awareness and sustainability education in society as a whole.
ESD and sustainability communication have been part of the discourse on sustainable development for around 25 years now. However, consistent implementation and structural anchoring still fall short of expectations. The DBU is therefore pursuing the goal of anchoring sustainability awareness and sustainability education in the education system and in society as a whole. This requires new methods of communication, learning, dialog, participation and cooperation. They are reflected in the DBU’s wide range of funding projects.
As a rule, the following are not eligible:
- Artistic projects such as art exhibitions, performances, theater, music and dance projects, video installations, (documentary) films, festivals, etc.
- Established, regularly recurring specialist and annual conferences, festive and anniversary events of associations, clubs, universities and companies as well as sustainability days, student conferences and symposia
- Establishment of new environmental learning sites
- Nature trails
- Educational projects in the context of regional, state, national and international garden shows
- Public relations campaigns, information dissemination, awareness raising
- Individual gardens as well as so-called world fields
- School gardens and school and kindergarten redesigns
- Projects aimed at setting up, expanding or redesigning Internet presences/websites
- Green office concepts, e.g. at universities
- Financing of third-party services/programs at schools, kindergartens, etc.
- Measures for specialist advice on environmental issues
- Established, regularly recurring exchange programs, school trips and encounter trips
As a rule, reasons for exclusion apply to such projects and/or funding would not correspond to the statutory purpose of the DBU (see funding guidelines).
