The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Prof. Anthony Kola-Olusanya, has advised for the education of children and youths within the formal and informal learning sectors on the 17 sustainable development goals.
On his part, teaching youngsters the SDGs was the only way to achieve environmental sustainability.
Speaking on Tuesday, while giving the 14th inaugural lecture, titled, ‘Saving Humanity and the Planet Earth: Humanity Must Rethink Its Development Trajectory,’ Kola-Olusanya, emphasized that the knowledge of the SDGs was the path to achieving a more sustainable future, which would make the younger generation to be aware of their roles in addressing global challenges.
Kola-Olusanya stressed that they should be taught about “clean water and sanitation, such as learning to avoid wasting water; acting now to stop global warming, avoiding the use of plastic bags to keep the oceans and rivers clean from such wastes, planting trees to help protect the environment, responsible consumption and production, recycling paper, plastic, glass and aluminum items and sustainable cities and communities like biking, walking or using public transportation.”
Additionally, he explained that sustainable development was a societal challenge, not simply an environmental one, saying improvements in education and healthcare would help acquire higher income and better environmental decisions.
He recommended that “policies must be in place that promote the decarbonisation of the energy industry through clean energy resources and renewable processes, which will be necessary to provide clean and affordable energy for all.
“There should be food and clean water for all while protecting the biosphere and the oceans, which will require efficient and sustainable food systems, achievable through increasing agricultural productivity and reducing meat consumption.”
He maintained that given its numerous contributions to understanding ecology, evolution, and applied ecology, Indigenous knowledge held the capability for humanity to attain a sustainable future.
