The XXX Pedagogical Days of Environmental Education, promoted by the Portuguese Association for Environmental Education (ASPEA), took place between 19 to 21 April 2024 in Caldas da Rainha, focusing on the theme “Territories and Proximity Policies: Challenges and Opportunities.”
In total, more than 200 educators and experts in education and/or the environment participated, with 23% of the participants from local and central public administration, 21% from NGOs, and 21% were primary and secondary school teachers.
ASPEA, as the Focal Point of the Earth Charter in Portugal, presented works in the exhibition space with the 16 principles of the Earth Charter, which were developed by students from schools in the Azores. The Earth Charter game was also exhibited, as well as the flag created within the framework of the KEYS project – an Earth Charter Network in Europe.
The Earth Charter was also present in the pedagogical workshop entitled “Earth Charter/KEYS Project: see, know and represent a tree”. The workshop aimed to observe the differences, in the overall form, in the elements that make up trees. In this sense, the working methodology used with students from the 2nd Cycle at D. Pedro II School, from the Moita Schools Group, was presented.
The KEYS project brings ASPEA together with partners from the International Earth Charter network in Germany and the Netherlands, aiming to provide educators with tools based on the Earth Charter to address the insecurity and frustration of European youth regarding the global crisis and, in particular, the climate crisis.
The event was supported by GEOTA (Study Group for Territorial Planning and Environment), PATO Association (Paul de Tornada Defense Association), QUERCUS, LPN (League for the Protection of Nature), SPEA (Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds), SPECO (Portuguese Society of Ecology), West Geopark, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, and co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme.