Category: Physical World & Sustainable Living

Make it, use it, throw it: A throwaway mentality is destroying the planet

The world’s oceans — majestic, awe-inspiring and essential for the survival of life on the planet — are being destroyed by eternal plastic. ‘Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That is the equivalent of… Continue Reading “Make it, use it, throw it: A throwaway mentality is destroying the planet”

Coral reef threat to 25 percent of all marine creatures

Our ravished oceans face another threat: irreversible damage to the world’s beautiful coral reefs. As reported by Aljazeera, half the corals on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have died over the past 25 years. Climate change is irreversibly destroying the World Heritage-listed underwater ecosystem. Coral… Continue Reading “Coral reef threat to 25 percent of all marine creatures”

We need to transform our relationship with nature, says the UN

A major United Nations report has characterised humanity’s relationship with the planet as a war and called for a fundamental reset in order to secure a prosperous and sustainable future for us all. The report, called Making Peace with Nature, has been published by… Continue Reading “We need to transform our relationship with nature, says the UN”

Learning how to cut down on food waste promotes sustainable living

According to the United Nations, 17% of all food is just dumped — almost 1 billion tonnes every year. It also says that as much as a third of all food may never be eaten. Although the UK is one of the leading countries… Continue Reading “Learning how to cut down on food waste promotes sustainable living”

Using COP26 to press the environmental education reset button

It might seem fanciful to imagine anything dislodging Covid-19 from the headlines at the moment, but in the coming months we are likely to be seeing, hearing and reading a great deal about the forthcoming COP26 climate change conference. As the UK is the… Continue Reading “Using COP26 to press the environmental education reset button”

The curriculum should reflect children’s interest in the environment and nature

A recent Forum for Life-Based Learning post stated that the forthcoming COP26 climate change conference of world leaders, to be held in Glasgow, presented an outstanding opportunity to press the reset button on nature education. The environment is an issue that children are passionate… Continue Reading “The curriculum should reflect children’s interest in the environment and nature”

Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health

IImage of a child laughing

A bold and imaginative approach to boosting children’s post-lockdown mental health and wellbeing would include a coordinated effort — involving parents and schools, young people’s organisations like Scouts and Guides, and community-driven initiatives — to offer every young person encouragement and, more importantly, easy-to-access… Continue Reading “Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health”

Woodland Trust adds its voice to calls for environmental education reform

A first-of-its-kind report from the Woodland Trust on the state of the UK’s woods and trees is calling for key changes in environmental education, including its inclusion in “core teaching curricula”, the allocation of guaranteed time for outdoor learning and the provision of nature… Continue Reading “Woodland Trust adds its voice to calls for environmental education reform”

Reducing plastics use helps with learning about the need to live sustainably

Two news stories in recent days — one saying that just 20 firms account for more than half of single-use plastic waste, the other a claim from Greenpeace that about 40% of the UK’s plastic waste exports were sent to Turkey last year and… Continue Reading “Reducing plastics use helps with learning about the need to live sustainably”

The BBC’s Plant Britain scheme is a great way to promote nature education

Ahead of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow in November, Glasgow City Region has announced a plan to plant 18m trees — 10 for every resident — over the coming decade, part of a new urban ‘forest’ to tackle climate change. The announcement… Continue Reading “The BBC’s Plant Britain scheme is a great way to promote nature education”