Human Rights Approach to Environmental Issues

This online training will support teachers with how to maintain a Human Rights Approach, an essential part of Global Citizenship Education, when exploring environmental issues.

Workshop Resources

Video Recording

Full recording: The Human rights approach to Environmental issues full recording playlist is available here.

Includes:

• Part 1: Digging deeper into what we mean and feel when we hear ‘Environment’. The importance of addressing the disconnect between people and planet when integrating human rights and environmental issues. 
• Part 2: Input from Sumaya, student and climate activist, on her COP 27 experience, as well as her work as part of a collective movement.
• Part 3 Input from Patrick Kirwan, teacher from Ardscoil na Mara, and founder of Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN). Patrick provided an input on his ‘Environmental influencer’ classroom course, which aims to connect young people to the political system, and show how they can advocate, influence, and engage within it. 
• Part 4: The importance of collective action, and examples of ways to integrate a human rights approach to environmental issues such as plastic, school garden, and world water day. 

Presentations

• Online interactive presentation: This is the online genial.ly presentation that was used for the CPD, available here.

Some slides have icons like an eye. These icons, once clicked, will open up a web page with a resource, video, or article that is relevant to the slide and topic. 

• Slides only Here are google slides with the slides only. The interactive icons in the online presentation will not work here, but you can pick, choose, and move around these slides for the classroom. 

Guidebook

WWGS How To Guide: Also available in hard copy form- please get in touch with us if you need a hard copy.

Our Digging Deeper Model on p14/15 of the guidebook can be used in tandem with any articles/videos/images to help students to critically explore and engage with the issue.

Other resources

You can download a document with all the resources mentioned below here.

The below was mentioned or touched on during the Human Rights Approach to Environmental Issues CPD, Dec 8th 2022. 

(Further resources including articles, podcasts, videos, etc.. can be found in our Resource Library on our website. Click into your relevant SDG goal, and various thematic resource sheets will come up)

Human Rights and Climate change online articles and further information

• Amnesty Inernational
• Greenpeace

A disconnect between people and planet?

• The Simpsons Video
• Economist Jason Hickel website
• Book: ‘Less is More, How Degrowth Will Save the World’ can be looked for, or ordered, in any local bookshop. WWGS funding can be used for purchasing this book. It is also available as an audio book. The content is accessible and can be used with students.

Indigenous peoples: informed custodians of biodiversity

• UNESCO article
• Youtube video: Struggle for life: Indigenous people gathering in Brazil for their rights to be protected
  Infographic on the world’s Indigenous Communities 

Introducing the need for collective action and movements to advocate for radical change

• Youtube video: The World is Dying, satirical video by Foil Arms and Hog

Collective Action: Engaging with the Political System

• Student Climate Activist Network (SCAN) twitter: @SCANireland, Instagram: scanireland

Course

• ISSN website: Environmental Influencer downloadable course  (Many other resources and info on ISSN available on website too, as well as links to social media)

Exploring environmental issues using a human rights approach

– PLASTIC: (not an exhaustive list, examples of resources!)

Articles: 

• Human Rights Impact of E-Waste
• Global Plastics Treaty: A historic Opportunity to Protect Human Rights
• The Plastic Problem
• Plastic recycling harms health 

– SCHOOL GARDEN: (not an exhaustive list, examples of resources!)

• Infographic on the world’s Indigenous Communities 
• Website and articles: Indigenous-led conservation in the Amazon: A win-win solution 
• Article: Ganges and Yamuna rivers granted same legal rights as human beings
• Youtube video, regenerative agriculture Farmer Eamonn McDonagh from Mayo on crop diversity, seed saving, and preservation of knowledge 
• Website with further info and resources: Kiss the Ground: resources on regenerative agriculture and soil

– WORLD WATER DAY: (not an exhaustive list, examples of resources!)

• Resource: The Geography of Climate Justice
• Infographic: SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation infographic
• Unicef Article: Impact of collecting water on women and girls 
• Long read analysis article: The Human Right to Drinking Water: Impact of large-scale agriculture and industry  

Education Officers:  We are here to help and support with integrating a human rights approach into Environmental issues, as well as anything else GCE related!  Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at any stage.