Education, Young People and Skills
Children and young people have a greater stake in the future than the rest of us.
Sustainability is obvious when you’re eight years old. Why wouldn't we want to protect the planet? Or treat people fairly around the world? Children are horrified when they hear that fish are disappearing from the seas and birds are threatened in the countryside. They are excited by the idea of turning waste into other things rather than burying it. Why do we have so much trouble with this as adults?
Inter-generational justice is central to sustainable development, and the people who work with children are on its frontline. From this starting point we have set ourselves many challenging goals:
1. We want children to grow up in healthy and sustainable environments, free from noise, pollution and danger from roads, and within easy reach of green and natural spaces for play and learning.
2. We want the education system to prepare children and young people for a bright sustainable future, not a failing consumption economy. That means understanding the roots of climate change, poverty, insecurity and obesity, and looking again at our values.
3. We think the services that children and young people encounter as they grow up – their schools, doctors surgeries, youth centres, children’s homes, playgrounds, hospitals and transport services – should be examples of sustainable operation so it becomes the norm.
4. We don’t want children to stop learning when they become adults. Whether it's in the workplace or in communities, now or in the future, being skilled at sustainable development will be essential for our national success.
5. Most of all we want to see children and young people feel ready to stand up for what they know is right. Our task is to help them take responsibility for their own future.
Our work programme
Our work aims to accelerate and deepen the UK Government's commitment to sustainable development as a policy goal in the education and skills development sectors, and more broadly within the public services and structures that support children, young people and learners in the United Kingdom. Our work focuses on three areas:
 |
Children and families | Louise Lord |
| |
Young People | |
|
Schools | Jake Reynolds |
|
Skills | Jake Reynolds |
|
Did you know? |
Key publications
» Every Child's Future Matters - Main report
» Carbon Emissions from Schools: Where they arise and how to reduce them
Our team
Ann Finlayson, is our Commissioner for Education and Capability Building; Waheed Saleem is our Commissioner for Young People; and Tess Gill our Commissioner for Work and Skills. If you have any questions or would like to contribute ideas please contact Jake Reynolds (Team Leader and DCSF Senior Advisor); Louise Lord (Children and Families Policy Advisor).
