Case Study | Learning for a Sustainable Future

Overview

Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) is a national, bilingual charity created in 1991 by the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy to integrate sustainability and climate change education into the K-12 school system in Canada and engage young people in taking action. 

With a mission “to promote, through education, the knowledge, skills, values, perspectives and practices essential to a sustainable future,” LSF works with everyone from governments and students to educators, businesses and foundations to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development throughout the education system. LSF reaches over 500,000 educators and students each year, helping to address the increasingly difficult economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st century. 

LSF’s work impacts everything from education policy to in-class resources. LSF advances education policy and curricula through research, knowledge mobilization and thought leadership. It supports teachers with professional development opportunities and resources, and it empowers youth through forums and grant funding. Through all its efforts, LSF nurtures strategic partnerships with schools and school boards, university faculties and NGOs, and Indigenous partners, through the active adoption of Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing.

These core focuses align with UN targets and reinforce LSF’s leadership in Canada to provide support to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development into education.

Engagement and Solutions

LSF’s recent national survey, “Canadians’ Perspectives on Climate Change & Education: 2022,” found there is wide agreement (64%) that the education system should be doing “a lot more” to educate young people about climate change. However, only a third (34%) of educators feel they have the knowledge and skills needed to effectively teach climate change. 

To answer this need, LSF’s Resources for Rethinking database offers access to nearly 2,000 English and French K–12 classroom resources from over 600 publishers, all vetted by teachers and matched to provincial and territorial curricula. Over 170,000 Canadian educators visit the R4R website every year. They can search by language (English/French), jurisdiction, grade, subject, curriculum unit, resource type (lesson plans, videos, children’s literature and outdoor activities) and SDG. Teachers can find resources to help teach concepts, inspiration for classroom projects, opportunities for art- and nature-based learning, and much more.

Beyond the in-class resources, also offers a robust suite of professional development opportunities for educators. From training modules and workshops to mentoring services, the organization is equipping teachers with the knowledge, resources and confidence they need to engage their students in thoughtful discussion and local action.

Students themselves also benefit directly from LSF’s youth empowerment and grant opportunities. LSF’s Youth Leadership Forums engage students in local sustainability issues, equip them with skills needed to make change, and empower them to take action. LSF also offers up to $500 for “Action Projects,” student-led initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of their school and/or community. Projects are then celebrated on LSF’s project site, OurCanadaProject.ca. 

From planting a pollinator garden at their school in Prince Edward Island to studying the health of their local waterways in Whitehorse, students across Canada are leveraging LSF’s support to make tangible, sustainable change in their communities. 

Outcomes and Future Vision

LSF’s all-encompassing approach enables it to work with educators, students, parents, governments, Indigenous Peoples, communities and businesses to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development into education policy, school curricula, teacher education and lifelong learning across Canada.

A Canadian leader in ESD since its inception, LSF plays a critical role in Canada’s path to SDG 4 Education 2030: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.