RS IDEALS Challenge – A Spirit of Environmentalism

How is our environment impacted by changes in our behaviour in response to global challenges?

This challenge considers how our behaviour impacts the environment, and how changes to that behaviour might change our impact, both positively and negatively.

How are the two connected? How do we shape our surroundings, and what is the evidence that our behaviour makes a difference? Is it the case that a significant impact can only be felt if we make big changes or can small changes add up to a make a big difference? When global events overtake national policy, what can we learn from the experience and what are our positive takeaways for the future?

In this section, we explore the impact of global events on the environment and consider ways in which positive change in the face of adversity can create a blueprint for future action. The ultimate challenge question is to examine and quantify your personal practices and behaviours, consider how these might have changed with growing awareness and create a personal sustainability action-plan for the future.

(5) Our relationship with LIFE ON LAND

Here we explore the Earth’s biodiversity as a complex matrix of living and inorganic systems, all interacting to maintain a stable balance. We consider the impact of agriculture, deforestation and poaching as examples of the many ways in which our behaviours impact the diversity of life on land and identify ways in which we can take action to help our planet restore the natural order of things. (Links to UN Sustainable Development Goal #15)

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(6) Our relationship with EARTH’S CLIMATE

At this station we consider the challenges posed by climate change. We explore the actions that are being taken, and can be taken both now and in the future, to mitigate its effects and to adapt to a changing climate. We think about ways in which we can manage our consumption of the world’s natural resources through changing our attitudes and behaviours, and to take action to reuse and recycle wherever possible. (Links to UN Sustainable Development Goal #13)

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The Spirit of Environmentalism Challenge:

For the Spirit of environmentalism Challenge we would like you to examine and quantify how your personal practices and behaviours impact the environment, consider how these might have changed with growing awareness and create a personal sustainability action-plan for the future.

You can choose your own format to do this (eg, statement goals, presentation, personal manifiesto, or others to choose your own format in which to do this or they might give you a specific format in which to work (e.g. statement of goals, presentation, personal manifesto etc.)

Take the challenge