Sustainability as the norm in early childhood settings

Abstract

This article was written in the midst of extreme weather events and bushfires that are again reminding Australians that climate change is real; neither politicians, nor early childhood educators can ignore the imperative of sustainability. As I and others have advocated (Davis, 2010), there is a unique opportunity in early childhood settings to culturally embed 'thinking, acting and relating' (Kemmis, 2009) for sustainability as integral to early childhood education. Children, educators and families must be active, empowered and collaborative participants in change towards more sustainable ways of being with the Earth.