Wendy Goldstein

Empowerment of individuals and realization of community agency: Applying action research to climate change responses in Australia

Using Participatory Action Research (PAR), the research presented here sought to resolve the problematic of whether climate group-initiated legislation could stimulate effective policy action on climate change. In late 2006, Australian public concern about the impacts of climate change and the Federal Government’s weak response became more pronounced due to increased media coverage and international developments. Locally based citizens’ ‘climate groups’ began to form, including Climate Action Coogee (CAC) in Sydney. CAC wrote their own Australian Climate Protection Bill after being motivated by the UK’s grassroots success in developing and promoting the UK Climate Change Bill. This article documents 10 months of the project, from inception to widespread grassroots endorsement and political awareness of the Bill. The use of PAR processes tested and further developed the theory of double-loop learning and its applicability to such a project. These processes allowed CAC coparticipants to experience a transformation in their agency through developing their personal and collective political power. The project contributed to legislative outcomes on climate change. The findings contribute to academic literature by demonstrating the effectiveness of PAR in guiding social movement campaigns.

Education for Sustainability--Looking Backward and Looking Forward--IUCN CEC Perspective on the United Nations Decade of ESD.

A network of volunteers, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), present some reflections on their contributions towards the field of education for sustainability from 1992 to the present. Many CEC members have been thought leaders to this multidimensional field, and advocates for a more strategic approach that engages key stakeholders in action. Through the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the CEC continues to reflect on how to leverage change more effectively in dialogue with young professionals and those from diverse disciplines. Finally, in looking forward, some thoughts for this still emerging field are advanced.

Managing expectations for sustainability in a changing context – in Sydney's –inner west – a GreenWay governance case study

This case study documents the actions taken by a community to create a greenway in a medium density urban environment in Sydneys inner west, the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay. The vision is to create a pedestrian and cycle path through regenerated bushland and urban parks, making use of a disused rail corridor. The 5 km corridor aims to link the community and natural environment to two of Sydneys water assets, and is consistent with state and local government goals to create a more sustainable and liveable urban environment. The GreenWay came tantalisingly close to being realised, until the political context changed. The case study explores: the phases of the GreenWay project; the capacity of the community to plan its own future; and the subsequent interactions between government and community. We highlight the role community, government and external bodies can have in urban ecological retrofitting and in designing innovative and inclusive governance models for sharing a public asset; and draw out lessons for managing community engagement, expectations, frustrations and trust in a changeable environment, both socially and politically. We also recognise the ongoing task of building social and institutional capacity towards a single vision.