Скачать или смотреть Green Guidance. Sustainability moves from the periphery to centre.

This webinar was part of the Career Industry Council of Australia's Green Careers and Sustainability Month Series held in February 2023.

As we look forward across the world to a new post-pandemic- normal world, the guidance community must take account of how our work can contribute to a more sustainable and Green agenda.

In this webinar , Professor Peter Plant of Denmark describes and outlines the vital importance of Green Guidance, in developing sustainable practice and supporting access to “green” careers.

Whereas economic growth used to be the solution, it now seems to create as many problems. Jobless growth, a deterioration of the natural resources, and the undermining of workers’ rights and wages; these are some of the present predicaments.

Globalisation in terms of global trade with its need for long-distance transport to/from low-wage areas adds to the problem, as does mindless tourism, and industrialised farming and fishing, just to mention a few. In this situation, guidance must become part of the solution, rather than the problem. Social justice and its relation to career guidance are interdependent, and, though obviously embedded in social structures, even more profoundly linked to sustainability issues.

Green Guidance defines guidance, and especially career development, in terms of ecology rather than just economy. Environmental and sustainability concerns will be put to the forefront of many daily activities, including guidance.

Guidance workers will have the difficult task of transforming this concept into daily practice - with a view to global perspectives. It does matter, now perhaps more than ever, what people do with their working lives: whether they produce lethal weapons, or simple water-pumps for irrigation.

The need to make such choices is globally evident: pollution, overconsumption in some areas, and fundamental needs in others, the pressure on scarce water resources, overfishing, global warming, ozone holes, etc, the list is unending.

How?

First it might be helpful to establish some principles for Green Guidance:
• Guidance should take into account and create awareness of the environmental impact of career choices and career development;
• Guidance should play an active role in establishing training and education opportunities with a positive contribution in terms of sustainability;
• Informational materials on career options should include environmental aspects;
• Guidance results should be measured, not only by an economic yardstick, but also by green accounting, i.e. by relating sustainability goals to guidance activities;
• Guidance theories and practices should address broader sustainability career development issues in addition to individualistic approaches.

Green Guidance may be seen as questioning mainstream ideas, concepts, and theories in the career guidance field. Green Guidance is based on the understanding that guidance should build on visions of sustainability.

Green Guidance is pro-active, questioning, probing, reflexive, and human-centred in the real sense: it moves career-decisions to a higher note of personal commitment, societal involvement, and meaningfulness.

Presenter - Professor Peter Plant (Denmark)