Media Room News Releases and Advisories

News Release: Canada Sets a Path for Environmental Learning

JOHANNESBURG, September 3, 2002 - The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today released Canada's Framework on Environmental Learning and Sustainability at the World Summit on Sustainable Development on behalf of the more than 5,500 Canadians, from all sectors of society, who shared in its creation.

"Designed to set out the vision for environmental education in Canada, the Framework on Environmental Learning and Sustainability fulfills a commitment made by Canada at the 1992 Summit on Sustainable Development," said Minister Anderson. "By integrating environmental learning into governments, communities, schools, organizations, and the private sector, we will increase knowledge on how our activities can affect the environment and we will encourage actions that promote sustainable living."

The Framework sets out the values and principles that Canadians believe should guide a life-long learning process, a process to include the sharing of knowledge, skills and capacity to reduce their impact on the environment. These principles and values are embodied in Action Plans now being developed across Canada.

Already more than 130 Action Plans have been completed by various groups in Canada ranging from businesses, to professional associations, to the forestry sector, from museums to a puppet theatre. More Action Plans will be done, each to be developed according to participants' means and mandates. Communities, organizations, schools, the private sector and governments are all encouraged to contribute to environmental learning by developing and carrying out their own plan.

In addition, there is support and commitment from the private sector - some of Canada's best and brightest companies have committed to environmental learning by planning national actions that support life-long learning opportunities.

"The vision of the Framework is starting to be realized", said Minister Anderson. "It is capturing the imagination of all sectors of society - governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, institutions, associations, the private sector and individuals as well as families."

Canada's Framework for Environmental Learning and Sustainability was developed through a consultation process that involved over 5,500 Canadians. A copy of the Framework is available at www.ec.gc.ca/education.

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Related document:

• Framework for Environmental Learning and Sustainability in Canada [backgrounder, 2002-09-03]

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