Ep. 30, Civil Society and Sustainability

15 Jun 2024 (5 months ago)

Education and Sustainability

The conference emphasized the crucial role of education, particularly higher education, in achieving sustainability outcomes.
The concept of "world society" often associated with the liberal world order emphasizes democracy, higher education, civic rights, and women's rights.

Civil society organizations face increasing restrictions and repression in many countries, limiting traditional activism.
In authoritarian regimes, environmental activism takes on subtler forms to avoid state crackdowns.
Restrictions on international funding for domestic nonprofit organizations impact activism, particularly in Canada, where American foundations' influence is notable.

The conference highlighted the value of interdisciplinary perspectives in understanding the limitations of social innovation.
There is a debate about the optimal level of social innovation, with some advocating for more innovation as a solution and others emphasizing potential waste and inefficiency.
Ethical issues arise in piloting programs that may not continue, especially in education, where starting and then shutting down a program can be harmful.
Experimentation is necessary for progress but should minimize the downside of failure for those involved.

The future of civil society and sustainability lies in increased collaboration and mixing across sectors, including government, civil society, and academia.