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35-496: Each school follows a seven step change process and aims to “empowers young people to lead processes and actions wherever they can.” Over time and through commitment to the Eco-Schools Seven Step process, improvements will be seen in both the learning outcomes, attitude, and behaviour of students and the local community, and ultimately the local environment. Evidence of success in these areas will eventually lead to

70-441: A holistic, participatory approach to learning for sustainability. The aim of the programme is to engage students through classroom study, school and community action to raise awareness of sustainable development issues. It encourages students and teachers to conduct research on the amount of waste, energy or water use at their school and work towards making it a more sustainable environment. Eco-Schools provides an integrated system for

105-563: A school being awarded with the International Green Flag. Eco-Schools is one of the programmes recognised by the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014), awarding certificates to thousands of schools around the world. The Eco-Schools programme extends from kindergartens to universities and is implemented in 67 countries, involving 51,000 schools and institutions, and over 19,000,000 students. It

140-528: A set of tangible and measurable development goals within which education is a significant input and indicator; EFA focuses on ways of providing educational opportunities to everyone; and the UNLD concentrates on promoting the key learning tool for all forms of structured learning, DESD was concerned particularly with the content and purpose of education. In concept and design, ESD challenges all forms of educational provision to adopt practices and approaches which foster

175-611: A similar geographic location, and on 1 November for the Caribbean, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries in the southern hemisphere . In the European Union, the water quality standards are incorporated in the EC Water Framework Directive . As of 2016 Spain has had more blue flag beaches than any other country every year since the awards began in 1987. As a result of the 2015 awards,

210-498: A total of 4,154 Blue Flags are waving around the world. `The table below lists the Blue Flags (both for beaches and marinas) awarded and in force in 2015. The table can be sorted to show the total number of Blue Flags per country and also the number of Blue Flags per population, per area or per the length of the coastline of each country. [REDACTED]   Costa Rica [REDACTED]   Panama The Blue Flag

245-675: Is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 77 member countries. FEE's Blue Flag criteria include standards for quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. The Blue Flag is sought for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards. Certificates, which FEE refers to as awards, are issued on an annual basis to beaches and marinas of FEE member countries. The awards are announced yearly on 5 June for Europe, Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, and other countries in

280-685: Is active in five programmes; Blue Flag , Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), Learning about Forests (LEAF), Green Key International and Eco-Schools. FEE is an international umbrella organisation with members in 76 countries worldwide. Sharma, P.K., Anderou, N., Funder A. C.. D, Changing Together - Eco-Schools (1994-2019), (2019) Foundation for Environmental Education retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/41661936/Changing_Together_Eco_Schools_1994_2019_ United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) 2005–2014

315-806: Is an evolution of the Eco-Schools programme. It targets students in third-level education in various countries and is implemented in the same way as Eco-Schools. The only real difference is that students devise an Eco Charter instead of an Eco Code. This Charter is a document which is a guide to environmental management on site. EcoCampus began in Russia in 2003 and the first whole institution Green Flags were awarded in Ireland in 2010, to University College Cork . Eco-Schools compensates for their CO 2 emissions from their flight travels when they go to, for example, conferences and National Operator Meetings through

350-533: Is based on the experience and scaling up of the successful Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African Universities (MESA) project. Blue Flag beach The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach , marina , or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards. The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which

385-478: Is explicitly mentioned in Target 4.7 of SDG4, which aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development and is understood as an important means to achieve all the other 16 SDGs. Additionally, SDG17 focuses on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalization of global partnership for sustainable development. Based on proposals by Japan and Sweden,

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420-445: Is flexibility to the ceremony and awarding process but the criteria for assessing schools for the award must follow the guidelines of FEE's International Eco-Schools programme. To qualify for an award the school must follow the following programme: After these processes are complete, the school can apply for one of the awards mentioned above, ultimately dependent on the level of environmental progress made. The FEE EcoCampus programme

455-563: Is the largest international network of teachers and students in the world. FEE EcoCampus is the name of the programme at university level. The programme was developed in 1992 in response to the need to involve young people in environmental projects at the local level as identified at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development of 1992. Eco-Schools was launched in 1994 in Denmark, Germany, Greece and

490-489: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (United Nations, 2015). The SDGs recognize that all countries must stimulate action in the following key areas – people, planet , prosperity, peace and partnership – to tackle the global challenges that are crucial for the survival of humanity. Some of these SDGs include ensuring affordable and clean energy , providing clean water and sanitation , and partnership for these goals . ESD

525-503: The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Several organizations and authorities outside the European Union have joined FEE. In 2001, South Africa and several Caribbean countries joined. FEE has been cooperating with UNEP and UN WTO on extending the Programme to areas outside Europe. South Africa, Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand and four countries in the Caribbean region are members of FEE. Aruba and Brazil are currently in

560-642: The International Association of Universities "Iquitos statement on Higher Education for Sustainable Development ." The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has facilitated the establishment of the Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) in 2012 as a flagship contribution to the UN DESD. The focus of GUPES is around three pillars: Education, Training and Network, and

595-741: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) process, the Education For All (EFA) movement, and the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD), the DESD also aimed to achieve an improvement in the quality of life , particularly for the most deprived and marginalised, fulfillment of human rights including gender equality , poverty reduction , democracy and active citizenship . Whereas the MDGs provide

630-675: The United Nations General Assembly , at its 57th Session in December 2002, adopted Resolution 57/254 to start the DESD, following the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, which emphasised that education is an indispensable element for achieving sustainable development. UNESCO was designated as lead agency for the Decade and developed a draft International Implementation Scheme for the DESD. Along with

665-582: The 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa; and the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro. Other key global agreements such as the Paris Agreement (Article 12) also recognize the importance of ESD. Today, ESD is arguably at the heart of

700-539: The Blue Flag was developed on European level to include other areas of environmental management, such as waste management and coastal planning and protection. Besides beaches marinas also became eligible for the Blue Flag. In 1987, 244 beaches and 208 marinas from 10 countries were awarded the Blue Flag. There have been increases in the numbers of Blue Flags awarded each year. The criteria have during these years been changed to more strict criteria. As an example, in 1992

735-424: The Blue Flag. In addition, tour operators that offer whale watching, bird watching, seal watching, cage diving, recreational fishing and diving have to comply with additional criteria for the respective activity. These criteria are tailored to the different tourist experiences and take into account the specific environmental issues related to them. They include for example approach distances to different animal species,

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770-475: The GAP aims to scale-up actions and good practices. UNESCO has a major role, along with its partners, in bringing about key achievements to ensure the principles of ESD are promoted through formal, non-formal and informal education . International recognition of ESD as the key enabler for sustainable development is growing steadily. The role of ESD was recognized in three major UN summits on sustainable development:

805-641: The Global Forest Fund. FEE has established the Global Forest Fund to help minimise the effects of CO 2 emissions from the increased travel activity worldwide. The Fund supports schools and organisations by funding CO 2 compensation efforts such as planting trees and environmental education activities. Eco-Schools is a programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education, and

840-500: The Programme started using the restrictive guideline values in the EEC Bathing Water Directive as imperative criteria, and this was also the year where all Blue Flag criteria became the same in all participating countries. In 2001, FEEE rules were changed to allow non-European national organizations, sharing the objectives of FEEE, to become members, and changed its name by dropping Europe from its name, becoming

875-689: The United Kingdom with the support of the European Commission. When the Foundation for Environmental Education became global in 2001, countries outside of Europe began joining the Eco-Schools programme as well. South Africa was the first country to do so. In 2003 Eco-Schools was identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development . The International Eco-Schools Programme takes

910-426: The environment, and in recognition of their commitment and progress, they can then apply for an award. Successful Eco-Schools are awarded the International Green Flag, an internationally acknowledged symbol for environmental excellence. In some countries, this recognition happens through a three level system, where schools are awarded either bronze and silver awards before receiving the International Green Flag. There

945-661: The environmental management of schools and involve all stakeholders in this process. The whole schools approach embedded in the Eco-Schools programme emphasizes the importance of an ongoing focus on the issues linked to environmental, climate, and sustainability issues. The programme's methodology consists of Seven Steps that the school needs to adopt: Step 1 Establishment of the Eco-Schools Committee Step 2 Environmental review Step 3 Action Plan Step 4 Monitoring and Evaluation Step 5 Curriculum Linking Step 6 Informing and involving

980-715: The pilot phase of the Programme and Jordan, Macedonia, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates have started the implementation of the Blue Flag Programme. FEE standards allow for regional variations in beach criteria to reflect specific environmental conditions of a region. As of 2006 an international set of criteria is being used with some variations. In 2016, Blue Flag extended its programmed boat-based tourism activities like nature watching (whale watching, bird watching, cage diving etc.), recreational fishing, diving and crewed charter tours. Certified tour operators have to comply with criteria regarding

1015-1007: The sustainable operation of their boats and their business as a whole. In 2015 over 4,154 beaches and marinas globally were awarded the Blue Flag. There are 44 countries participating in the Blue Flag Programme, along with two US territories: Bahamas , Belgium , Brazil , Bulgaria , Canada , Costa Rica , Croatia , Cyprus , Denmark , Dominican Republic , Estonia , France , Germany , Greece , Iceland , India , Ireland , Israel , Italy , Jordan , Latvia , Lithuania , Malta , Mexico , Montenegro , Morocco , Netherlands , New Zealand , Norway , Panama , Poland , Portugal , Puerto Rico , Romania , Serbia , Slovenia , South Africa , Spain , Sweden , Tunisia , Trinidad and Tobago , Turkey , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , Ukraine and US Virgin Islands . Microbiological test as evidence for bacterial free The criteria presented above apply to all tour operators that want to be awarded

1050-491: The values of sustainable development. In response to the DESD, the United Nations University (UNU) called for the development of networks for the promotion of ESD, as well as being expertise centres for the research development of ESD. This was the birth of Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) supporting education for sustainable development. Dr. Betsy Boze was instrumental in drafting and approval of

1085-507: The wider community Step 7 Eco Code Schools are encouraged to work on eleven Themes, which are as follows: Biodiversity & Nature, Climate Change, Energy, Global Citizenship, Health & Wellbeing, Litter, Marine and Coast, School Grounds, Transport, Waste, and Water. Any school may participate in the scheme by registering with the FEE member organisation in their country. Once registered, each school must review and improve their impact on

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1120-624: Was an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiative of the United Nations . The Decade was delivered by UNESCO as lead agency, and gave rise to Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) networks, and the GUPES universities' partnership. The launch of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development started a global movement to reorient education to address the challenges of sustainable development . It

1155-559: Was created in France in 1985, as a pilot scheme from the Office of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe ( Office français de la Fondation pour l'Education à l'Environnement en Europe ) where French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality. 11 French municipalities got the award in 1985. 1987

1190-552: Was the "European Year of the Environment" and the European Commission was responsible for developing the European Community activities of that year. The Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) presented the concept of the Blue Flag to the commission, and it was agreed to launch the Blue Flag Programme as one of several "European Year of the Environment" activities in the Community. The French concept of

1225-645: Was the first UN Decade to establish a global monitoring and evaluation process and expert group. Building on the achievement of the Decade, stated in the Aichi-Nagoya Declaration on ESD, UNESCO endorsed the Global Action Programme on ESD (GAP) in the 37th session of its General Conference. Acknowledged by UN general assembly Resolution A/RES/69/211 and launched at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD in 2014,

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