EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Environmental education

Environmental education – Helsinki, FI

Introduction

In Finland, the principal actor in educating children with regard to energy efficiency is MOTIVA, the National Information Centre on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources.

Description

MOTIVA has developed a methodology based on the sensitivity of nature, on the joy of sharing positive experiences, and on the emotional dimension. One of the keys to its success is its painstaking work of observation and definition for its target group, children of different ages, and of their needs and their preoccupations. MOTIVA has put in place a whole range of initiatives and tools which are used in schools, kindergartens and crèches.

Approach

Some initiatives taken are the following:

"Auntie Green" is an environmental teacher for pre-school children. She is a kind of story-teller who wears a tree costume.
National energy awareness week in schools is an annual themed week which is held in October right across the country. It involves primary school classes of 7 to 8 year-olds. Businesses and other organisations participate by organising events on the theme of energy saving.
"Paul and Peggy at home and away" is an educational package designed for children from 3 to 7, devised with the support of MOTIVA. The package is based on the booklet "Paul and Peggy at home and away" which tells the story of an ordinary family of four and describes what they do over the course of a week. Paul and Peggy try to find out how to protect nature by acting in an ecologically aware manner in everyday life both at home and in their immediate environment.
Guide for Energy End-Users in Schools: Based around the keywords " Learn-Manage-Act", it seeks to develop an energy management plan in schools which should serve as the basis for discussions about energy consumption, potential energy savings, the cost of energy, etc. An essential aspect of the project consists in identifying, in each school, one person to be responsible for making the link between the school curriculum and the Energy Management Plan for School Buildings. The Guide will serve as a methodological support for implementation of such a Plan, and equally as a pedagogic support in various courses.

Results

The energy education project for the city of Helsinki is a beacon element within municipal Agenda 21 work. Its success, and the richness of the project, are due in part to the convergent motivation of the city and of MOTIVA, whose commitment in the area of education for energy management should be emphasised. Over several years, MOTIVA has developed expertise in this subject (through realising publications, designing pedagogic tools, etc.).

Emphasis should similarly be given to the part played by the local Energy Agency in the coherence of the energy education project, in recognition of the fact that it:

serves as a logistical support, for example by finding funding sources for the acquisition of pedagogic materials;
is involved in instigating initiatives, thereby making use of the methodological frameworks and tools developed by MOTIVA;
has been a partner to MOTIVA in devising a guide for energy users in schools (administrative and technical staff, teachers and pupils).

Contact info

City of Helsinki
Ms Ulla Soitinaho, tel. +358 9 166 27 36

Contact info

MOTIVA
Ms Kirsti Karkkainen, tel. +358 9 8565 3199

Project start date

//1996

Links

Helsinki is a partner in the Energie Cités Network

Download the `Environmental education – Helsinki, FI´ Report (PDF, Eng, 287 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Environmental sustainability