THE P-E-A-C-E MODEL OF EDUCATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY: A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO A COMPLEX ISSUE

In an increasingly complex, globalised world, we are faced with problems that affect the whole world, be it economic crises, environmental disasters, conflict, violent extremism, over population, pollution, global warming to name but a few of the ever growing list of problems. Some educators feel that education is at a crossroads – business as usual will not suffice any longer – new courageous and creative approaches to tackling the issues facing the future decision makers on this planet, that is, our current students are needed. Education for Sustainability promises a new - and essential - start in the direction of tackling global environmental issues such as climate change. However, having examined sustainability curricula from Australia and other so-called developed nations I noticed that despite the complexity of issues supposedly addressed by Education for Sustainability there seems to be a lack of imagination and creativity when it comes to thinking beyond strictly environmental facts, scientific knowledge, technological skills and proposed attitudinal adjustments with science and technology consistently hailed as the solution to all our problems. Whilst it is true that they play an important part, what seems to be lacking from most curriculum documents I examined is an integral, transdisciplinary approach that acknowledges the complexity of the issues involved in sustainability. Introducing my P-E-A-C-E Model for Education for Sustainability I suggest that in order to make Education for Sustainability more appropriate for the complexity of issues to be addressed, two changes need to happen: (1) personal sustainability needs to give the status is deserves and (2) the old silo mentality of keeping the different academic disciplines strictly separate especially science and the arts is unsustainable. A transdisciplinary approach to EfS aims at developing planetary stewardship, global citizenship, the building and maintenance of humane relationships need to move centre-stage.