Charter

The Charter was //developed// collaboratively during student forums in 2008 as well as through communication via this wiki. A working party of students in Term 1, 2008, proposed the following motion to the Regional Director, Dr. Phil Lambert, which he endorsed: //"That Sydney Region DET support the formation of a Sydney Region Youth Environment Council. We believe a Sydney Region YEC will promote a student voice on sustainability and will encourage students to become active environmental citizens"// The purpose of the Youth Environment Network in Sydney Region is to: **"To inspire students and our school community**    **to take actions for a sustainable future"**
 * YOUTH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK CHARTER**
 * Background: **

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THE YEN WILL: * improve the environment in the school and surrounding community * allow the youth to put the future in their own hands and provide a student voice for decision making * create a network between schools in Sydney Region to support and inform students in environmental initiatives * increase awareness and educate the school community about sustainable lifestyles * provide a way for schools to work together * help motivate people in taking action on environmental issues * develop fun activities to link youth in common environmental endeavours * promote ESD (*see below)  * develop and strengthen existing school environmental groups * influence policies on school Environmental issues ( For example: participate in School Environmental Management Plan (*SEMP-see below) development) * influence development of curriculum relating to Environmental Education *Ecologically Sustainable Development Information on ESD from Australian Government website: Department of Environment Water, Heritage and The Arts

Australia's [|National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development] 1992 (NSESD) defines ecologically sustainable development (ESD) as: //'using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased'.// //There is growing recognition that we have to// look beyond economic progress //to achieve sustainable societies. Sustainable Development must be// ecologically sustainable. //Economic and social progress depends on base ecosystem services (for example oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption by plants) and a healthy environment. Development also implies an improvement in the quality of life through education, justice, community participation, and recreation.// //Three principles that are necessary to understanding sustainable development are intergenerational equity, the precautionary approach and biodiversity conservation. Together these approaches aim to prevent and reverse adverse impacts of economic and social activities on the ecosystem, while continuing to allow the sustainable, equitable development of societies.// //Source:// [|//http://www.environment.gov.au/esd///] *School Environmnental Management Plan Source: Curriculum Support Website http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/envired/semp/index.htm //School Environment Management Plan (SEMP ) should include:// ==
 * //The schools major environmental objectives//
 * //Sub-committee recommendations for achieving these objectives through Curriculum, School resources and School Grounds//
 * //Audit Results and Action Plans specific for major objectives eg Paper, Resource use, Energy, Water//
 * Reviews of actions