RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL on Environmental education of 24 May 1988 (88/C 177/03)

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Aware of the increasing need to protect the environment so as to improve living conditions and ensure the harmonious development of economic activities throughout the Community;

Reaffirm their determination to strengthen, in accordance with the European Community environmental action programmes of 1973, 1977, 1983 and 1987, public awareness of problems relating to the conservation and improvement of the environment by means of appropriate action in the education sphere;

Recall that in accordance with Article 130R (2) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, requirements relating to the protection of the environment shall be a component of the other policies of the Community and that, in accordance with paragraph 4 and taking into account the factors set out in paragraph 3 of the same Article, the Community shall take action in this field to the extent to which the common objectives can be attained better at Community level than at the level of the individual Member States;

Believe that, as stated in the resolution of the Council of the European Communities of 19 October 1987 concerning the continuation and implementation of a European Community policy and action programme on the environment (1987 to 1992), it is important, whilst observing the respective competences of the Community and the Member States to concentrate Community action on certain priority fields, amongst which is the promotion of education and training in environmental matters at the appropriate levels;

Recommend that measures be taken, in accordance with the resolution of the Council and the Ministers of Education meeting within the Council of 9 February 1976, comprising an action programme in the field of education, with a view to promoting closer relations between systems of education for the purpose of furthering environmental education;

Consider that all sectors of education (pre-school, general and vocational, higher and further education) should make a contribution to carrying out the task of environmental education;

Note the growing demand for staff with specialized knowledge of environmental protection matters and the consequent need to intensify and improve action in the sphere of education, vocational training and advanced education, to respond to this demand;

Agree to establish certain principles concerning environmental education so as to promote the full development of such education throughout the Community;

Point out, bearing in mind action already taken under Community environmental programmes to set up schools' networks as well as action by international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), that concepts of environmental education and measures for their implementation are being developed in all Member States and that it appears appropriate to establish a systematic exchange of information and experience in the Community;

Agree on the need to take concrete steps for the promotion of environmental education, so that this can be intensified in a comprehensive way throughout the Community;

HEREBY ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION:

I. OBJECTIVE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The objective of environmental education is to increase the public awareness of the problems in this field, as well as possible solutions, and to lay the foundations for a fully informed and active participation of the individual in the protection of the environment and the prudent and rational use of natural resources.

For the achievement of this objective environmental education should take into account particularly the following guiding principles:

- the environment as the common heritage of mankind,-the common duty of maintaining, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, as a contribution to the protection of human health and the safeguarding of the ecological balance,-the need for a prudent and rational utilization of natural resources,-the way in which each individual can, by his own behaviour, particularly as a consumer, contribute to the protection of the environment.

II.

MEASURES

The achievement of this objective and implementation of the guiding principles should be promoted both at the level of the Member States and at European Community level.

A. Action to be taken at Member State level

Within the limits of their own specific educational policies and structures, the Member States will make every effort to implement the following measures:

(a) each Member State, taking account of regional particularities and in cooperation with parents, local bodies and other relevant bodies, should promote the introduction of environmental education in all sectors of education, including vocational training and adult education.

It would appear appropriate that its current policy on environmental education should be set out in a document and made available to schools and other educational institutions.

The document should take account of the fact that environmental education is an interdisciplinary subject of relevance to many fields of teaching;

(b) for the carrying out of these tasks, it would appear important for the relevant authorities of the Member States:

- to give consideration to the basic aims of environmental education when drawing up curricula and organizing interdisciplinary courses,

- to encourage extracurricular school activities by means of which theoretical knowledge of the environment acquired in school can be put into practice,

- to take appropriate measures to develop teachers' knowledge of environmental matters in the context of their initial and in-service training,

- to undertake specific action to provide teachers and pupils with appropriate teaching materials.

It would appear appropriate to prepare, implement and improve these priority activities with the help of pilot and research projects;

(c) specialists who are particularly concerned with environmental problems should, through appropriate vocational training facilities, have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge or bring their knowlege in this field up to date.

Relevant environmental content should also be introduced into initial vocational training and university training, with a view to influencing those with future professional responsibilities in a direction which is most favourable to the conservation of the environment and natural resources.

B. Action to be taken at Community level

In order to reinforce the action of the Member States and achieve effective collaboration in this field, the Commission, assisted by a working party of representatives of Member States, appointed by the Commission on the proposal of the Member States concerned, is invited to take the following initiatives:

(a) Exchange of information

- production of an inventory of initiatives taken in the Member States and at Community level with a view to facilitating their transposition and systematic comparison,

- organization of meetings, seminars and symposia about aims and methods of environmental education, as well as for examining the specifically European aspects;

(b) Improvement of the documentation for teachers and pupils

- measures to place basic documentation on various Community issues in the environment sphere, as well as results of Community research programmes, at the disposal of teachers and pupils,

- organization of summer courses at European institutes of higher education for teaching specialists so as to enable them to exchange experience and identify new methods of teaching in the environment sphere,

- production of a European guide to institutes of higher education offering courses in disciplines concerned with environment problems;

(c) Incorporation of environmental education into current activities

- encouragement for initiatives by young people for young people or partnerships in the environment sphere based on the existing Community ad hoc arrangements,

- promotion of meetings between young Europeans on topics of environmental protection through the 'Youth for Europe scheme' (YEs) and the 'Exchanges between young workers' scheme,

- insertion of the topic 'Environmental education' into the 'Study visits for education specialists' (Arion) programme so as to enable a certain number of national, regional or local specialists in environment education to visit another Member State in order to exchange information and improve their work through incorporation of a European dimension,

- encouragement for cooperation between institutes of higher education operating in the environment sphere by using the opportunities offered by the Erasmus programme to promote the mobility of students and European teaching staff and the development of common teaching materials,

- encouragement, in the environment sphere, for cooperation between institutes of higher education and industry as regards training in new technologies by using the Comett programme.

III.

The Education Committee shall monitor implementation of the resolution in liaison with the working party on the environment.

IV.

The Council and the Ministers of Education meeting within the Council invite the Education Committee to make an initial report to them within a period of two years following the adoption of this resolution in the progress of action undertaken in the field of environmental education at Member State and Community level.

V. The decision relating to the financing by the Community of the action referred to under II.

B shall be taken in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Community.