Apologies for yet more cross/repetitious posting...
RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2010, 1st-3rd September, London UK
Children, young people and 'sustainability'
A Sponsored Session of the Geographies of Children, Youth and Families
Research Group
Convenors:
Sophie Hadfield-Hill (Centre for Children and Youth, The University of
Northampton)
Professor. Pia Christensen (Institute of Education, University of Warwick)
Dr. Stella Hart (Institute of Education, University of Warwick)
Dr. John Horton (Centre for Children and Youth, The University of Northampton)
Dr. Peter Kraftl (Department of Geography, University of Leicester)
The aim of this session is to explore children and young people’s awareness of
the environment and sustainability to further our theoretical understanding
and to inform and contribute to future policy regarding children as agents of
change. Children and young people have an ambivalent status within
contemporary discourses of 'sustainability.’ On one hand, a growing range of
research illustrates how younger people have considerable agency in fostering
environmentally-sustainable behaviours in diverse contexts. On the other
hand, however, major contemporary policy agendas relating to environmental,
economic, political or social sustainability - notably the UK Government’s
Sustainable Communities - seldom make reference to children and young
people.
We seek the sharing of perspectives on children and young people’s
perceptions of the environment, climate change and sustainability, as well as
an exploration into their actions on individual, household and community
levels. To date, adult perceptions of these issues and environmental
behaviour have received much attention; this session seeks to explore children
and young people’s attitudes and actions in this context.
The UK Government’s ‘Sustainable Communities’ agenda encompasses elements
of environmental sustainability. However, research has shown that the
intentions of policy-makers, planners, architects and builders have been
thwarted as residents, particularly adults, have not fully embraced the
environmental technologies of their homes. Whilst the physical infrastructure
of homes and buildings has been ‘greened,’ ultimately it is the individual that
needs to consciously change their habits. We need to understand how people
in their households and communities, understand and engage with issues of
environmental change and how this engagement can be transformed into
positive environmental action. Incorporating environmental sustainability into
the built environment is not enough; the transition to a low carbon economy
will not only have to be met by housing developers working to certain ‘green’
criteria; in the long term it is the user and individual who holds the
responsibility for ensuring the sustainability of their home and community.
As the children and young people of today will be the leaders of the future, it
is necessary to examine their attitudes, concerns and knowledge about the
environment. Whilst, environmental education is on the political agenda, we
are interested in how this education is acted out within the home and local
community.
The aim of this session is to explore theory and practice under the broad
intersection of children, young people and sustainability. Contributors are
encouraged from diverse contexts and perspectives, relating to the following
topics:
• Family practices, environmental issues, and environmentally-friendly
behaviours
• Children and young people’s daily routines and sustainability
• Case study examples of how to engage children, young people and
families in environmental issues and sustainability
• Sustainability and education
• Environmental education within the home
• ‘Sustainable communities’ and young people
• Children’s use and understanding of environmental technologies
• Children and young people as agents of change
• Children, young people and families within contemporary discourses of
sustainability
Please submit abstracts (of no more than 250 words) to Sophie Hadfield-Hill
([log in to unmask]) by Friday 12th February 2010.
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