The 2018 campaign on international education’s impact on climate change has led to the creation of a global coalition of educators to improve awareness and advocate for improved business models to reduce impact.
The Climate Action Network for International Educators, borne from Pomegranate Global’s campaign on climate action, currently has members from the Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe, to increase the reach of their combined efforts.
“It’s a huge elephant in the room”
“Through [the campaign], I connected with other people around the world who were feeling the same, who were also putting on sessions at different conferences, so we all banded together,” said Pomegranate Global founder Ailsa Lamont.
Speaking with The PIE News, Lamont said international education, which relies heavily on flying, was a significant contributor to climate change, adding one of the network’s aims was to get institutions to factor environmental issues into their decision-making process.
“It’s a huge elephant in the room, and I get why a lot of people in the sector are a bit reluctant to confront it because we have a whole operating model based on flying everywhere and encouraging everyone to fly,” Lamont said.
“It’s difficult for people to picture what a more environmentally-friendly approach to running international education could look like.”
So far, the network has presented at several conferences, and Lamont said a website was in development which would provide resources for individual and institutional action, including looking at new operating models for the sector that utilises technology, increasing focus on transnational education and reimagining business models.
“What we’re doing with CANIE is hoping to create a focus point for them where we can all start sharing resources, a bit like the Global Leadership League, we’ll focus our activities around the major conference circuit, have social meet-ups.”
CANIE will be presenting at the upcoming EAIE in Helsinki and will exhibit at AIEC in Perth.
