G20 Foundation Publications Turkey 2015 | Page 108

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CLIMATE CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY
EDUCATING FOR
SUSTAINABILITY IS NEEDED
Sofia Santos, President of K-Evolution
The generalised global concern
about sustainability and the
green economy can only be
transformed into concrete actions
implemented by a large proportion
of the population if such topics are
included in the education system.
They should be included not only
in the environmental areas but
also mainly in the management
and economics area of thought.
Without economists and
executives who have theoretical
and conceptual knowledge about
sustainable development, the green
economy, the economic value of
ecosystems services and climate
change, there is a high probability
that sustainability practices
will not be powerful enough to
provide the changes needed in
order to maintain the equilibrium
of the planet in the use of natural
resources. Without this equilibrium,
one will see an increase in natural
disasters and in conflicts between
communities.
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“If one wants to have a green and inclusive economy
then one must be willing to teach appropriate economic
and management theories. These theories have existed
since the seventies but need to become mainstream in
the education system.”
It is important that young students studying
subjects such as management, finance and
economics are given the opportunity to learn
about the existing theories of humanistic
management, stakeholder engagement,
ecological economics and green economics. It
is also important they become familiar with the
new management approaches implemented
by large and small companies, such as the B
Corp movement in Europe and USA and the
Capitalism with Conscience in the USA. It is
important that young students learn about the
possibility of making profit while making good;
and that responsible investors are increasingly
interested in investing their money in companies
that also provide social and environmental
returns to society and are not exclusively
focused on short-term profit maximization.
K-Evolution is a Portuguese non-governmental
organization that aims to promote citizenship,
sustainability and entrepreneurship via
education using emancipatory teaching
methods. By doing so K-Evolution expects to
contribute towards sustainable businesses,
ethical leadership and civic participation.
www.kevolution.org Q