PRESENTED AT The 6 th Annual Colloquium of

PRESENTED AT The 6 th Annual Colloquium of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law n Theme: POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION n Mexico City, MEXICO n Date: 10 th – 15 th November, 2008. n 1

TRAJECTORIES OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: HARNESSING THE LEGACY OF EDUCATION BY: PROFESSOR MARGARET T. OKORODUDU-FUBARA FACULTY OF LAW OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE-IFE, NIGERIA 2

Paper Outline INTRODUCTION n Poverty and Environmental Degradation n “Option Poverty Eradication via Education for Sustainable Development n ESD: A Convenient Vision n Education: A Dynamic Tool n Education and National Environmental Policy n 3

Paper Outline (2) The Dawn of United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development n ESD: A 21 st Century Movement n Towards Legal Education for Sustainable Development n Resistance to Change n Greening Legal Education n CONCLUSION. n 4

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BACKGROUND n n n Purpose: to share effort to mainstream sustainability concerns in a non-environmental law course I teach at the university Globalization of world economy International interdependence Consider cartoon “big Bad World”…P. J. Polyp (The truth about global power) True or false 6

Legal Education for Sustainable Development (LESD) n n n n Globalization of world economy Knowledge-based socio-economy Conservatism of law discipline Key into vital imperatives of sustainability Our changed and changing world Versatility of law / legal education Connectivity of Law, Peoples, Politics, Socioeconomics and environmental issues 7

Perspectives 8

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Contrasts Society’s Rich; Middle. Class and the Poor 10

Indications 11

Poverty at its worst 12

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n Making “legal sense” of sustainable development 15

Earth Summit, 1992 Highlighted important relationship between environment and development n Established the notion of sustainable development on the global agenda n SD principles reflected in national constitutions and laws n Reflected in international treaties/soft laws n 16

Rio Declaration, 1992 Principle 1 n “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature” n 17

AGENDA 21 Implied: n Linkage between economic, social and environmental concerns and issues poverty, equity, quality of life and global environmental protection n 18

Chapter 36 Agenda 21 Emphasis on: n Education…public awareness, training, n Capacity building n Addressing environment and development issues n Using Ch. 36 to mainstream ESD into the law program in our universities n 19

ESD Vision Education…balancing human and economic well-being with n Cultural traditions and n Respect for earth’s natural resources n Empower citizens to act for positive environmental and social change n Participatory and action oriented n 20

LESD imperatives Law professors / students…reflect critically on their communities n Identify non-viable elements in their lives n Empowered to develop and evaluate alternative visions of sustainability n Participatory approach to fulfillment of the visions. n 21

BUL 601– Class Seminar n n Presented at the “Law of Corporate Management and Finance” LL. M Class 2005/2006 Session, Obafemi Awolowo University Topic “Integrating the Principles, Values and Practices of Sustainable Development into Corporate Management and Finance, A Case Study of Select Companies… Manufacturing; Oil and Gas; Banking and Agricultural” 22

Focus… Companies as Cynosure in national and international investments, employment and production of goods and services n Provide channels for trans-border relationships n Richer and more powerful than many States that regulate their operations n 23

Governments…realization Companies indispensable units of economic development n Pursue conscious economic policies to provide enabling environment for companies to thrive n Companies role to ensure countries, communities and areas of activities are not worse off n 24

Corporate Management…Web of Contradictions n n n Traditional role as catalyst for economic growth Realization of man in a dynamic age of technological advancement Dilemma of dimensional proportion and environmental implications Creation of wealth fast becoming bane of a healthy society Imperatives integrating principles, values and practices of sustainable development in companies’ activities 25

Baseline Findings “Big Business” investment, production and marketing strategies. . create extensive waste and degradation of natural resources n Encourage unsustainable consumption patterns n 26

Corporate enterprises, i. e. n n n Logging, mining, pulp/paper mills, agro allied, oil, chemical, cement, iron and steel, financial, etc. destroy large areas of tropical forest, marine and coastal resources, freshwater sources, agricultural land urban environment. . cause global climate change. . depletion of ozone layer Workers endure poor working conditions and pay Indigenous peoples livelihood and culture threatened by corporate activities. . pollution and improper industrial waste disposal 27

Integrating SD Ideals into Company Management and Finance n n Through laws and regulations Voluntary initiatives/partnership by companies Link between Government controls and voluntary initiatives Case Studies: Co-operative Bank UK; Shell Petroleum Development Company (Nigeria) Ltd. ; Olubo-Ade Farms Ltd. ; Savannah Sugar Company, Ltd. 28

IUCN Academy. . Contribution to LESD n n A major platform of world universities environmental law teachers with new perspectives and commitment to: Ensuring promotion and integration of environment and SD in law curricula Network with relevant bodies within and outside the ivory tower to achieve the goals and objectives of LESD It is doable!!!!!!! 29

THANK YOU FOR Listening. 30