Page 3335 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
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we heard in person from these young climate activists who are so worried about their future. I commend the motion to the Assembly and look forward to hearing Ms Berry’s remarks in particular.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (10.45): I thank Mr Rattenbury for allowing me to jointly move this motion with him today, and I reiterate the government’s support for youth-led action to secure a sustainable future at a time of a climate emergency.
The Legislative Assembly has already declared that it understands the gravity of the climate emergency, and it is taking action. In May this Assembly resolved to declare a climate emergency, the first Australian state or territory to do so. This government is nation leading when it comes to taking action on climate change.
We understand the potential consequences of not acting. Importantly, those in the government and on the crossbench understand that today’s children and young people, including students in ACT schools, will live in the world that legislators and policymakers like us leave them.
There is a clear need and evidence that immediate action is required to avoid a catastrophic climate change. Globally, we are already well behind. ACT students understand this, and, as an Assembly, we do need to listen to them, not just because they are right but because they are demonstrating leadership and their agency in seeking a sustainable future. In fact they led the Assembly through the school strike for climate in March.
In March I backed the right of students who are concerned about climate change to take action, and I acknowledge their commitment to action. Participation in activism is a learning experience in itself.
It is inspiring that ACT students are mobilising and demanding climate action. Student agency is a key principle in the ACT’s future of education strategy. Our world-class Australian curriculum produces students who are active and informed citizens, participating in Australia’s civic life and supporting the Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians.
In educating our students, the ACT gives attention to sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority in delivering the Australian curriculum. This is not a subject of itself but rather a priority area of study that connects and relates all relevant aspects of sustainability content across all subjects.
Sustainability as a curriculum priority encompasses three key aspects: systems, world views and futures. The systems aspect explores the interdependent and dynamic nature of the system that support all life on our planet and our collective wellbeing. The world views aspect enables a diversity of world views on ecosystems, values and social justice to be discussed and recognised when determining individual and community actions for sustainability.
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