Environment links and resources

Websites Books Videos AusAID resources

Calculate Your Eco-footprint URL:  http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/office/introduction.asp Contains eco-footprint calculators for households, offices, and schools. The web based calculator is a short quiz which estimates how much productive land and water you need to support what you use and what you discard. GEO Data Portal URL:  http://geodata.grid.unep.ch/ The GEO Data Portal is the authoritative source for data sets used by UNEP and its partners in the GEO report and other integrated environment assessments. Its online database holds more than 400 different variables, as national, subregional, regional and global statistics or as geospatial data sets (maps), covering themes like Freshwater, Population, Forests, Emissions, Climate, Disasters, Health and GDP. Display them as maps, graphs, data tables or download the data in different formats. Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4) URL:  http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4.asp The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) GEO project was initiated in response to the environmental reporting requirements of Agenda 21 and to a UNEP Governing Council decision of May 1995, which requested the production of a comprehensive global state of the environment report. The GEO project has two components: A global environmental assessment process that is cross-sectoral, participatory and consultative. It incorporates regional views and builds consensus on priority issues and actions through dialogue among policy makers and scientists at regional and global levels. It also aims to strengthen environmental assessment capacity in the regions through training and 'learning-by-doing'. GEO outputs, in printed and electronic formats, including the GEO report series. This series presents periodic reviews of the state of the world's environment, and provides guidance for decision-making processes such as the formulation of environmental policies, action planning and resource all... Sustainability Education URL:  http://www.environment.gov.au/education/ Sustainability education develops skills, knowledge and values that promote behaviour in support of a sustainable environment. It is not confined to formal schooling. It also occurs in a wide range of non-formal education settings at work and at home. The website has sections for community, government, industry and small business, students and teachers. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) URL:  http://www.beta.undp.org/undp/en/home.html UNDP's mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development by assisting them to build their capacity to design and carry out development programmes in poverty eradication, employment creation and sustainable livelihoods, the empowerment of women and the protection and regeneration of the environment, giving first priority to poverty eradication. World Bank URL:  http://www.worldbank.org/ The World Bank Group's mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development bank which provides low-interest loans, interest-free credit, grants, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle-income countries to reduce poverty. The Bank promotes growth to create jobs, and to empower poor people to take advantage of economic opportunities. The Bank is strongly committed to the Millennium Development Goals which target poverty, school enrolments, child mortality, maternal health, disease, and access to water. It is currently involved in more than 1,800 projects, in virtually every sector and developing country. Worldwatch Institute URL:  http://www.worldwatch.org/ Worldwatch Institute is an independent, globally focused environmental and social policy research organisation based in Washington, DC. It offers interdisciplinary research, global focus and accessible writing, and is a leading source of information on the interactions among key environmental, social, and economic trends. Worldwatch releases several publications including the annual books, State of the World and Vital Signs, and a bi-monthly magazine called World Watch. Its work revolves around the transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just society, and how to achieve it.

Books Title: Get Connected Issue 7: Climate Change Author: World Vision Description: Get Connected Issue 7 looks at how human environments interact with the physical environment, with a particular focus on greenhouse emissions and deforestation. It addresses how climate change impacts those living in developing countries and how the world is responding. This is a 28 page colour workbook and DVD that includes case studies from Ethiopia, Burundi, Vietnam and The Philippines. Age group: Upper primary/Lower secondary Where to get it: World Vision http://www.worldvision.com.au/Learn/SchoolResources.aspx Title: Global warming - Cool it! Author: Environment Australia Description: This 24 page booklet is a clear, simple and informative guide to reducing energy costs, waste and greenhouse gases. It gives some basic information on Global Warming and gives lots of practical ideas on how ordinary Australians can work to save the environment. Age group: Upper Primary and Secondary Where to get it: Environment Australia Community Information Unit http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/gwci/ Title: Nature & people in Indonesia Author: Bob Whiteford Description: This 90 page book contains four case studies and additional readings covering the main features of Indonesia's rich natural environment and the strategies employed to conserve it. It also examines how conservation policies are initiated and maintained within the context of social priorities. Age group: Upper primary/ Lower Secondary Where to get it: Australian Association for Environmental Education Email: aaee@peg.apc.org Videos Title: Asia's Water Crisis - the struggle within each drop Author: Asian Development Bank Description: This 18-minute video examines various problems and solutions of water supply, sanitation and distribution in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and China. Age group: Primary (can be divided into 3 sections) / Secondary Where to get it: Available for borrowing from Professional Development Providers - see Support and networks / PD providers above. Also available for purchase from the ADB web site at http://www.adb.org/Publications/product.asp?sku=0008V&p=mltdoc Title: Fragile ecosystems, Coral reefs at risk: Palau, Micronesia Author: Classroom Video Description: The indigenous people of Palau are developing management strategies to preserve their fragile ecosystems. The video shows the interaction between coral reefs, intertidal wetlands and mangroves, and examines related development issues. The video lasts for 25 minutes. Age group: Senior Secondary Where to get it: Classroom Video http://www.classroomvideo.com.au/ Title: Vietnam's Water Paradox Author: Asian Development Bank Description: This 11 minute video examines the water paradox in Vietnam - too much in the countryside, leading to flooding, and too little in the city, leading to hardship and health problems. Age group: Secondary Where to get it: Available for borrowing from Professional Development Providers - see Support and networks / PD providers above. Also available for purchase from the ADB web site at http://www.adb.org/Publications/product.asp?sku=0018V&p=mltdoc AusAID resources Focus articles Focus, a quarterly magazine published by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), provides a variety of items about how the Australian Government's overseas aid program addresses specific global issues. You can subscribe to Focus online or order printed copies at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pubs.cfm?Type=PubFocus Water poster series Author: AusAID Description: This series is made-up of four A2 (42cm x 60cm) posters, each showing how water affects our daily lives. The posters look at water and the environment, water and agriculture, water and work, and water and health. The images include a short description of how access to clean water is essential in relation to each of these themes. The images are from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Vietnam. The posters are a simple, colourful and informative resource for the classroom. National Mailing and Marketing 11 Tralee Street Hume ACT 2620 PO Box 7077 Canberra BC 2610 Ph: 02 6269 1050 Fax: 02 6269 2770 Email: books@ausaid.gov.au

Environment (AusAID) URL:  http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/envt.cfm This web page provides information on the role of environmental planning and policy in the Australian Government's overseas aid program, including aid activities, policy framework and aid achievements. Australian aid supports international environmental programs such as the Global Environmental Facility, which aims to combat climate change, conserve biological diversity and protect the ozone layer. Environmental Management Guide for Australia's Aid Program URL:  http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pubout.cfm?Id=2297_1393_1917_9648_6600 This Guide describes AusAID's environmental management system (EMS), outlines the steps to be followed in environmental assessment of activities, and the procedures for managing potential environmental impacts. The Guide describes AusAID's legal obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). It also provides guidance for sustainable approaches to managing the environment and using scarce natural resources. Global Environment Facility - Questions and Answers URL:  http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/globalenvironmentfacility1998.pdf A brief overview of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which has a major impact on developing countries by combating global warming, conserving biological diversity, protecting international waters and reducing ozone layer depletion. Overseas Aid Program and the Challenge of Global Warming URL:  http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/climate.pdf Analysis of Australia's aid program in the context of global warming and climate change. Review of the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program URL:  http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/qas22.pdf August 2000 report of the independent review of the SPREP (Quality Assurance Series No. 22)