The IEU is committed to supporting educators in delivering sustainability education.
The IEU has advocated for a healthy environment for our members and school communities for decades. In the 21st century, sustainability and climate action are at the forefront of environmental concerns. The IEU stands ready to tackle the greatest environmental threat facing our schools, students, and communities.
As a teachers union, we stand with our members who educate students daily about threats to biodiversity and the life support systems of the planet as a whole. We also stand beside student climate activists inspired by the tenacious teenager Greta Thunberg. How could an education union do otherwise?
Global heating has impacted communities around Australia with bushfires, smoke and floods. In February 2022, more than a dozen schools in Lismore were inundated by flooding made worse by climate change. Black Summer bushfires (2019-2020) saw 33 lives lost, 3000 homes destroyed, 19 million hectares burnt and billions of animals killed. During recess and lunch, students were kept indoors due to the smoke. It was not safe to breathe or play outdoors. Human fingerprints are all over these “natural disasters”. They are more intense and more frequent due to climate change.
The IEU’s Environment Committee is looking to expand on our already successful environment conferences, Environment Grant program and other sustainability initiatives. In 2024 we will trial the running of Climate Fresk workshops for members. These are part of a global educational “Fresk” project which informs people about climate change in an engaging, visual way. Read more here.
Climate action is union business.
Climate change is impacting all workers. Australian workers are on the frontline of climate change. Health professionals and carers are supporting Australians through heatwaves and bushfires. Workers on farms and in food manufacturing businesses are affected by increased temperatures and drought. Public servants working in government departments are administering disaster relief programs. Over summer, teachers were dealing with traumatised children and evacuations in fire zones with kids uncertain about the future of our planet. Posties and essential services workers face unprecedented heat and difficult working conditions. And workers in manufacturing businesses and the energy sector increasingly need a plan to clean up Australia’s energy supply in order to remain viable.
Location: Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre, Wallumedegal Country
For over a decade, the IEU has been running sustainability events that allow teachers and support staff to share their knowledge and experiences of creating sustainable practice in their own schools with other participants.
IEU/Teachers Mutual Bank Environment Grant Program
The IEU is proud to team up with Teachers Mutual Bank to provide funds for our annual Environment Grant Program. 2024 Environment Grants are open now!
Examples of projects we have funded:
Koala food trees
Revegetation of degraded river banks
EV charging stations
Frog bog habitat and native bee habit
Seed to table kitchen gardens
To read more about the Environment Grants and about previous winners, click here.
