Endnote
"My own personal view is that there is little
or no doubt about it [the science of climate change]. Also, I
think, incidentally, even if there was a residual doubt, any sensible
precautionary policy would say, 'well the consequences of it being
right are so severe that it is best to change behaviour'."
Rt. Hon Tony Blair MP, House of Commons Liaison Committee,
8 February 2005
125. This statement from the Prime Minister, just
a few weeks ago, confirms that his view of the threat of climate
change has not altered. Indeed, he goes so far as to suggest
that, even if the science is not 100% proven, the sensible course
of action is to proceed as if it were. As a Committee, we have
often stressed the importance of applying the precautionary principle,
and we entirely support this view. Even if climate change does
not happen to the degree expected, the damage already caused by
the way in which far too many people live, means that it is still
vital that people understand that they can no longer continue
to pollute the environment and plunder the earth's natural resources
with impunity.
126. It was particularly reassuring to hear the Prime
Minister's words given that we had felt compelled to begin this
report by asking whether there was a need for Education for Sustainable
Development. We posed this question, not because we were in any
doubt about the need for and value of ESD, but because we had
been left with the uncomfortable suspicion that there were still
some people who do have doubts.
127. As we conclude this inquiry we are very aware
that there are many people, including some in Government, who
remain unconvinced by the arguments in favour of Education for
Sustainable Development. It is very difficult not to sound alarmist
when talking about climate change and the need for sustainable
development to safeguard our planets survival but lest anyone
be tempted to discount the threat, they should take heed of the
warning given by Mr Paul Allen, Development Director at the Centre
for Alternative Technology. Mr Allen's view is that there are
some desperately urgent issues which need action now, and then
there are some which could be tackled over the next fifty years
or so, when action would still be timely. Climate change is "cryingly
urgent" and at the top of his list. He explained the threat
as follows:
"…if we continue to behave as we are
then climate change may start to run away with itself, and even
if we all switched everything off and sat quietly it would not
stop […] We must not be seen as tinkering around the edges."[106]
128. Unfortunately, the only conclusion we are able
to reach is that the DfES response to climate change, as demonstrated
by its lamentable attitude to ESD, is exactly that, "tinkering".
It is now
clear that the Prime Minister's sense of urgency about the threat
of climate change, and his commitment to do something about it,
is not matched by the actions of the Department for Education
and Skills. DfES has failed to ensure sufficient funds for ESD,
has lost the impetus that led to the creation of the Sustainable
Development Action Plan and continues to treat ESD as a "bureaucratic
add-on", and a low priority one at that. We are deeply concerned
about this failure and look to the Prime Minister, if necessary,
to ensure that DfES moves ahead and gives ESD the financial and
policy priority that it needs.
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