The gist of the argument is twofold. First there is a need to reframe and clarify the concept of sustainability. Second there is a need to reframe EfS in HE and concentrate on educating the educators.
The Need to Reframe Sustainability
The rise of concerns and the discourse on sustainability signify a fundamental shift in the understanding of the relationship between humanity and nature. Humanity is realizing that it is part of nature and that it depends on nature for its existence. In turn, the central concern within sustainability is that humans are living beyond the capacities of the earth’s ecology systems. The world’s population is living and consuming at a higher rate than what the ecological systems can re–generate and support over the long term. Central debates in sustainability focus on the use of resources, population stress, water and food security, energy, climate change, ecological balance and eco–system adaptation (Vogt, Patel–Weynarrd, Shelton, Vogt, Gordon, Mukumoto, Suntana & Roads, 2010). The subsequent conclusion derived from these debates is that current lifestyles and patterns of consumption need to change.
In short, the earth’s population has outgrown the growth model. Unbridled growth is argued here to represent a mindset of abundance that favors expansion, development and growth. The mindset includes a belief that more resources exist, they just need to be found and utilized. Hence, there is a need for a counter strategy that is more attuned to current understandings. The alternative presented here is a post–abundance framing of the relationship between humanity and nature. This is a relationship based on sustainability. As Farley & Smith (2014) explain, to sustain implies maintenance, support and long–term endurance “of something”, but the something which is sustained involves a value position.
Two different positions in the relationship between humanity and nature are being set out. The first concerns where we, as humanity, are at the moment. This is a position built upon the growth model, a position labeled here as reflecting an abundance mindset. The second position being presented concerns where we, as humanity, need to move. This is the preferred or desired position of living within the means and carrying capacities of global eco–systems. This is being labeled here as a post–abundance position. Throughout history, movement from abundance to a post–abundance position has often occurred through social upheaval and revolution, but in this case the movement is to occur peacefully, through education. Yet the image of the revolution helps to convey the importance of what is at stake, and the need for change. It also conveys a sense of the degree of difficulty involved and what is being asked of an educative process.