5- ACTION-Acting for Sustainability (10-15 years)
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ACTION
ACTING FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
POLITICAL SYSTEMS
AND SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES: HPolitical systems should develop and implement policies that protect
the environment and promote sustainable development. These policies should focus on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy sources, conserving biodiversity, and protecting
ecosystems.
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: Political systems should promote education and awareness on
sustainability issues. This includes educating citizens on the impact of their actions on the environment and
providing information on sustainable practices.
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES: POLITICAL systems should provide economic incentives for sustainable
practices. This includes providing tax breaks for businesses that implement sustainable practices, and
ofering subsidies for renewable energy projects.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: Political systems should work with other countries to promote
global sustainability eforts. This includes participating in international agreements and treaties, such as the
Paris Agreement, and collaborating on research and development of sustainable technologies.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Political systems should encourage citizen participation in sustainability
eforts. This includes involving citizens in the decision-making process and providing opportunities for
public engagement on sustainability issues
OVERALL,
POLITICAL
SYSTEMS
MUST
PRIORITIZE
SUSTAINABILITY
BY
IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND ENCOURAGE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. BY
DOING SO, WE CAN ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Political systems play a crucial role in promoting
sustainability, as they are responsible for creating
policies and laws that can protect the environment
and promote sustainable development. In order to
work for sustainability, political systems should include
the following components:
Climate change is a big problem that afects our
planet and the people who live on it. It's the most
important issue of our time because if we don't do
something about it, it could cause serious problems
for us and future generations.
The climate crisis is something that democracies -
countries where people vote for their leaders - need
to tackle by reducing their carbon footprints. This
means making changes to the way we use energy
and resources to reduce the amount of pollution
that is released into the atmosphere.
Climate change is already afecting how our
governments work, especially in areas like food
security, conficts, water scarcity, migration, and
natural disasters. It's a big test for how well our
democracies can work together to solve problems
that afect everyone.
To tackle climate change, it's important that our
democracies come up with efective ways to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and protect the
environment. This will help us and future
generations live in a healthy and safe world.
DEMOCRACY AND THE
CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE
LEAVING
NO-ONE
BEHIND:
POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE SDGS
“WHAT ROLE FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
IN THE SDGS?”
Political parties are an important part of modern
democracies around the world. They help people
have a say in how their country is run and make sure
everyone is treated fairly. Political parties listen to
what people want and work to make those ideas into
laws and policies.
This is why political parties are really important in
achieving the SDGs - Sustainable Development
Goals. They help guide the actions of government
and other organizations to create efective ways to
overcome inequality, which can hold us back from
making progress on the SDGs.
So, political parties are like a bridge between
everyday people and the people who make
important decisions. They make sure that everyone's
voice is heard and that we work towards a better,
more equal world.
“LONDON, Oct 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -
Climate change poses "an existential challenge" for
democratic governments and could lead to more
authoritarian rule if eforts to curb global warming
founder, fuelling a surge in catastrophic impacts from
hunger to heatwaves, researchers warned on Tuesday.
Worsening disasters and the resulting societal upheaval
could "be used as an excuse for autocratic ... regimes to
curtail democratic freedoms, as experienced during the
COVID-19 pandemic," warned a report from the
nonproft International Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
But democracies could take steps now to shore up their
ability to deal with climate change, from lowering the
voting age and making it easier to fle class-action
lawsuits to tackling disinformation and setting a carbon
price, it noted.
"This is the time to be bold, and experiment and
rethink," said Kevin Casas-Zamora, the Costa Rican
secretary-general
of
International
IDEA,
a
Sweden-based intergovernmental organisation that
works to strengthen democratic institutions.
As threats from a heating planet grow, "we cannot
simply do business as usual with democracy", said the
politician and lawyer."
“Amongst the forms of participatory democracy which
can complement and enrich the work of representative
institutions, citizens’ assemblies are the best placed to
harness the collective wisdom and allow citizens to
reclaim the public space, providing the authorities with
useful information on people’s preferences and
indications on how to reconcile a multitude of
conficting interests.”
WHY POLITICIANS HAVE
FAILED TO TACKLE CLIMATE
CHANGE
Global warming is the defning threat facing the planet.
So why has so little been done to curb it?
DEMOCRACIES THAT FAIL TO ACT
ON CLIMATE CHANGE FACE
'EXISTENTIAL' THREAT
MORE PARTICIPATORY
DEMOCRACY TO TACKLE
CLIMATE CHANGE
There are several ways to identify the relevant political
stakeholders for sustainability in your country. Here are a
few steps you can take:
RESEARCH GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES: Start by
researching the government structures in your country.
Find out about the diferent branches of government and
how they work together. This will help you identify the key
decision-makers who can infuence sustainability policies.
IDENTIFY POLITICAL PARTIES: Political parties play a
signifcant role in shaping government policies. Research
the diferent political parties in your country and their
stances on sustainability. This will help you understand
which parties are most aligned with your sustainability
goals.
RESEARCH KEY POLITICIANS: Once you have
identifed the political parties in your country, research the
key politicians who hold positions of power. Look into their
backgrounds
and
their
voting
records
on
sustainability-related issues.
IDENTIFY
RELEVANT
GOV
DEPARTMENTS:
Sustainability issues can fall under the responsibility of
several government departments, such as environmental
protection agencies, energy departments, or agriculture
departments. Identify the relevant departments in your
country and research their policies and priorities.
LOOK INTO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS: Civil
society organizations play a crucial role in advocating for
sustainability policies. Research the relevant organizations
in your country and their initiatives related to sustainability.
They can also provide information on key stakeholders and
decision-makers.
Overall, identifying relevant political stakeholders for
sustainability in your country requires research and
understanding of government structures, political parties,
politicians, government departments, and civil society
organizations. By following these steps, you can identify
key decision-makers and advocate for sustainability
policies that align with your goals.
WHO ARE THE RELEVANT
POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS
IN MY COMMUNITY?
ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
“WHO ARE THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS?
AND HOW SHOULD WE ENGAGE WITH
THEM?
Once an issue is identifed, for advocacy interventions to be
efective, it is important to:
• identify the relevant stakeholders; and
• tailor the advocacy interventions to those stakeholders to
maximise impact.
IDENTIFYING STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders may include:
• government departments, regulators and public bodies
at national,
regional or local levels
• business people, businesses and trade bodies involved in
the afected
• markets, including producers of inputs, substitutes and
complements
• consumers, consumer advocates and consumer groups
• professional organisations and trade unions
• chambers of trade, commerce or industry, and chambers
of agriculture
• legal and industry experts in the area studied
• academics with a specialism in the sector
• media
• other parties that may have an interest in the market.”
THE
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL
FOR CLIMATE ACTION
The Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) is a
group of people who work for the European Commission
to help protect the planet from climate change. They make
plans and strategies to reduce the amount of pollution we
create and make sure we are prepared for the efects of
climate change. They want to make Europe a leader in
fghting climate change, and they do this by creating new
ways to use energy and resources that are better for the
environment. They also work with other countries to make
sure everyone is doing their part to protect the planet.
They want to make sure that we can still have a good life on
Earth while taking care of it for future generations.
REPRESENTATION & CLIMATE
CHANGE
HOW TO ENGAGE AND COLLABORATE WITH
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
A TYPICAL PRODUCT
LIFECYCLE DIAGRAMME
Parliamentarians play an important role in raising
awareness about climate change and building the
political momentum needed to address it. They can
inform people about climate change by supporting
public campaigns and sharing information through
personal
statements
and
communications.
Additionally, they can encourage the parliament and
relevant committees to share fndings and reports
with the public, and advocate for more openness
and direct consultation with citizens and key
stakeholders.
Parliamentarians can also serve as a valuable
resource for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
looking to promote climate action. CSOs can share
their concerns and comments with parliamentarians
who are supportive of the issue, and provide
research and expertise. While parliamentarians may
not be able to act on every request, they can
advocate on behalf of CSOs and citizens when
concerted eforts are made.
“Fighting
climate
change,
preserving
our
environment, acting against global warming…
Climate action has been at the heart of the EU’s
mission for decades. Let’s take a look at some
milestones.”
Identify the
stakeholders:
Develop a
co-creation process:
Establish clear
goals:
Communicate
effectively:
Build
relationships:
Identify the key
stakeholders who have a
stake in the sustainability
policy development
process. This could include
government officials,
business leaders,
community organizations,
academics, and citizens.
Clearly define the goals of
the sustainability policy.
This could include
environmental, social, and
economic goals. Engage
stakeholders in setting
these goals, so that they
are aligned with their
values and interests.
Effective communication is
key to building trust and
maintaining engagement.
Provide regular updates on
the progress of the policy
development process and
be responsive to
stakeholder feedback.
Building relationships with
the stakeholders is crucial.
Take the time to
understand their
perspectives, values, and
interests. This can be done
through individual
meetings, focus groups, or
town hall meetings.
Establish a process for
co-creating the policy with
community
representatives. This
process should be
transparent, inclusive, and
collaborative. It could
include workshops, working
groups, and online forums.
Evaluate the
policy:
Implement the
policy:
Once the policy has been
developed, it is important
to evaluate its
effectiveness. This can be
done through monitoring
and evaluation frameworks
that are co-created with
stakeholders.
Finally, implement the
policy in a way that is
equitable, inclusive, and
sustainable. This could
involve partnerships with
local organizations and
businesses,
capacity-building
initiatives, and ongoing
stakeholder engagement.
OVERALL, ENGAGING WITH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STAKEHOLDERS TO
CO-CREATE
SUSTAINABILITY
POLICIES
WITH
COMMUNITY
REPRESENTATIVES
REQUIRES
PATIENCE,
PERSISTENCE,
AND
A
COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATIVE DECISION-MAKING. BY WORKING
TOGETHER,
STAKEHOLDERS
CAN
DEVELOP
POLICIES
THAT
ARE
GROUNDED IN LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, VALUES, AND INTERESTS, AND THAT
CAN LEAD TO MORE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES FOR ALL.
As a climate activist, you may have the opportunity to
participate in meetings with decision-makers in your
community, country, or even internationally. The purpose
of these meetings is to work together to create initiatives
and solutions to advance the climate agenda, while
considering the needs and challenges faced by children,
adolescents, and young people. By attending these
meetings, you can share your ideas, experiences, and
perspectives to infuence the decisions made.
In addition, countries work on climate policies and tools to
help protect the environment. It's important for young
people to participate in creating these policies so that they
refect their needs and uphold their rights. When young
people take part in consultations and reviews of climate
policies and tools, their perspectives are integrated into
the policies and make them more sensitive to the needs of
children, adolescents, and young people. Other young
activists have some tips on how to prepare for, participate
in, and follow up on these consultations and reviews to
make the most impact.
PREPARE TO ACT! PRACTICAL
TIPS FOR CLIMATE ADVOCACY
MEETING DECISION-MAKERS
There’s a good chance that you will need to meet someone
in a position of power to help you achieve your goals. This
could be a national Minister of Education, an advisor,
someone at UNESCO, or a local chief. Whoever it is, there
are some things to keep in mind to help you reach and
infuence them.
1. Setting up an advocacy meeting
• Contact
Find out the best way to reach them. Who can help you set
up a meeting?
• Courtesy
The relationship starts here! Recognise that your issue
might not be their priority.
• Timing
Is this a good time? Can what you are asking them to do be
done now?
• Clarity
Be clear about what you want from them.
2. Prepare
• What interests and infuences them?
Go over their position on your issue – could they support
the change you’re looking
for?
Who should go?
Think about who is best to attend the meeting. Can you
involve those directly afected by the issues?
• Have you designed brilliant messages?
Organised by the coalition members, children from diferent
countries were interviewed on their wish for the future and
their message to world leaders.
In the lead up to COP27 in Egypt in November 2022, a new
video series, Voices of Change, features ten interviews with
some of the world’s indefatigable climate activists, looking at
their courage to persist against all odds, while advocating for
change and solutions to protect vulnerable communities and
our planet. The frst interview features Vanessa Nakate, a
climate activist from Uganda and a Young Leader for the
Sustainable Development Goals.
KIDS' MESSAGES ON CLIMATE
CHANGE TO WORLD LEADERS
VOICES OF CHANGE: CLIMATE
CHANGE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Go through your messages and requests. List your key points
to communicate.
• Are you legitimate?
Are you recognised as a representative of the people whose
interests you are advocating? Do you have evidence from
your research?
• Are you convincing?
Do you have evidence to support your position? Will what
you are proposing really make a diference?
• Have you got a plan B?
It’s common to turn up at a meeting to fnd that it’s a
diferent person than you expected, that you have less time,
and that their agenda is diferent to what you’d agreed. Be
ready for anything!”
UNICEF teamed up with Fridays for Future to highlight young
activists on the front lines of climate change. “Now is the time
to act.” Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Nkosi is using
his talents to speak out on climate change in Zimbabwe.
ON THE FRONTLINES OF
CLIMATE CHANGE IN ZIMBABWE
DUE DILIGENCE:
HOLDING CORPORATIONS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE
DOES THE POLLUTER PAY?
“WHAT IS THE ‘POLLUTER PAYS’
PRINCIPLE ABOUT?
Knowing policies that assign responsibility for environmental
damage is important because it helps to ensure that those
responsible for causing harm to the environment are held
accountable for their actions. By holding polluters accounta-
ble for the environmental damage they cause, policies can
incentivize companies and individuals to adopt more environ-
mentally sustainable practices and reduce their environmen-
tal impact.
Moreover, policies that assign responsibility for environmental
damage can help to protect communities and individuals who
may be negatively afected by environmental degradation.
When polluters are held accountable for their actions, afected
communities may be able to seek compensation for any harm
they have sufered. This can include compensation for proper-
ty damage, loss of income, or medical expenses related to
environmental health problems.
Additionally, policies that assign responsibility for environ-
mental damage can help to facilitate environmental cleanup
eforts. For example, some policies require companies to clean
up contaminated sites or restore damaged ecosystems. By
holding polluters responsible for environmental damage,
these policies help to ensure that the costs of environmental
cleanup are borne by those who caused the damage, rather
than by taxpayers or afected communities.
Overall, knowing policies that assign responsibility for envi-
ronmental damage is important for promoting environmental
sustainability, protecting communities and individuals, and
facilitating environmental cleanup eforts.
The 'polluter pays' principle means that whoever causes
pollution should pay to clean it up or fx the harm caused
by it. This makes sense because if someone makes a mess,
they should be responsible for cleaning it up. This idea has
been really important in helping to reduce pollution and
make people accountable for their actions.
But sometimes it can be hard to fgure out who caused the
pollution or who should pay for it. Sometimes, even if we
know who caused it, they might not be able to pay for the
damage they caused. And sometimes it can be really
expensive and take a long time to go through the legal
process of making someone pay for the pollution they
caused.
The 'polluter pays' principle has been used to deal with
many diferent types of pollution, but sometimes it's still
hard to apply, especially when pollution is caused by many
diferent sources. Overall, it's an important principle that
helps make sure people take responsibility for their actions
and encourages them to be more careful in the future.
DUE DILIGENCE GUIDANCE
FOR RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
CONDUCT
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY
DUE DILIGENCE
Companies play an important role in creating a strong
economy and society, but sometimes they harm the
environment while doing so. People, governments, and
companies are becoming more aware of this problem.
Some companies are trying to fx it by following rules
that require them to be responsible and make good
choices. However, the European Parliament has noticed
that just following these rules voluntarily may not be
enough, and they are discussing how to make sure
companies are doing their part to protect the
environment.
Some companies are doing things that are really bad for
people and the planet. They might hurt the environment
or treat workers unfairly. The European Union is thinking
about making a new law to make sure these companies
are responsible for their actions. This law would require
companies to have good policies to protect people's
rights and the environment. But before this can happen,
we need to make sure that lots of people ask the
European Commission to change the rules and make
sure companies are accountable for what they do.
WHY WE NEED A LAW TO
PROTECT WORKERS, PEOPLE,
AND PLANET FROM BAD
BUSINESS
Everyone can make a contribution to positive environmental
change, regardless of their background or lifestyle. Here are
some examples of actions that individuals can take:
Reduce energy consumption: Switching of lights when not in
use, using energy-efcient light bulbs, and unplugging
electronics when they are not being used can help to reduce
energy consumption.
Reduce water usage: Fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, and
turning of the tap while brushing teeth can help to conserve
water.
Reduce waste: Recycling, composting, and using reusable bags,
bottles, and containers can help to reduce waste.
Use sustainable transportation: Walking, cycling, carpooling,
and using public transportation or electric vehicles can help to
reduce carbon emissions.
Support environmentally friendly products and services:
Choosing products that are sustainably produced, locally
sourced, and made from eco-friendly materials can help to
reduce environmental impact.
Get
involved
in
advocacy:
Joining
environmental
organizations, signing petitions, and contacting elected ofcials
can help to advocate for policies and practices that promote
positive environmental change.
By taking these actions, individuals can contribute to positive
environmental change and help to protect the planet for future
generations.
“Want to make the biggest climate diference that
you can? Try to cut 1 ton or more of CO2 emissions
from your lifestyle every year. Consider one or
more of these actions below.”
EVERYONE CAN MAKE
A CONTRIBUTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
PROTECTING OUR PLANET STARTS WITH YOU
Don’t send
chemicals
into our
waterways.
Learn how to make smart seafood
choices at www.FishWatch.gov.
Vo l u n t e e r !
c h o o s e s u s t a i n a b l e
Choose nontoxic
chemicals in the
home and office.
Volunteer for
cleanups in your
community. You
can get involved
in protecting your
watershed too!
Energy efficient light
bulbs reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions. Also flip the
light switch off when
you leave the room!
Long-lasting
light bulbs
- ARE A -
E D U C A T E
re d u c e
R E U S E
recycle
D R I V E L E S S
B I K E M O R E
When you further your own
education, you can help others
understand the importance and
value of our natural resources.
-SHOP-
WISELY
Buy less
plastic and
bring a
reusable
shopping bag.
PLANT
A TREE
Trees provide
food and
oxygen. They
help save
energy, clean
the air, and
help combat
climate change.
s e a f o o d
The less water
you use, the
less runoff and
wastewater that
eventually end
up in the ocean.
Cut down on what you throw
away. Follow the three “R’s” to
conserve natural resources and
landfill space.
o c e a n s e r v i c e . n o a a . g o v
TEN SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP
PROTECT THE EARTH
TOP TEN OPTIONS FOR REDUCING
YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
“From driving a car to disposing of waste, many of
our daily activities cause greenhouse gas emis-
sions. In living a more sustainable lifestyle and
tackling the climate crisis, knowing how our
behaviors and actions impact the environment is a
crucial frst step.”
MEASURE YOUR IMPACT
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