This year, the European Commissions' science and knowledge service published a report entitled "GreenComp The European sustainability competence framework".
In this report, the Commission developed a reference framework based on a set of competences to "respond to the growing need for people to improve and develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to live, work and act in a sustainable manner"[1]
This reference framework came into force two years after the ETUI adopted its own competence framework approach[2] to build its training programme on climate change and environmental sustainability.
In this brief article, we analyse the main feature of the European framework compared to the ETUI Green Competence Framework Approach. Are there similarities and differences between the two approaches?
Similarities…
The European Sustainability Competence Framework, like the ETUI Green Competence Framework Approach, is based on the general assumption that environmental sustainability should put the notion of justice and equity at the heart of our societies. In ETUI's approach, this assumption addresses, more specifically, current and future generations of workers from determining sectors affected by climate change or climate change adaptation policies.
Both approaches are built around interrelated and interconnected "high level" competences that are declined into more specific competences. There are four competences areas in the European framework that correspond to the definition of sustainability competence proposed by the Commission compared to the five transversal competences in ETUI's approach.
According to the Commission, a sustainability competence empowers learners to embody sustainability values, and embrace complex systems, in order to take or request action that restores and maintains ecosystem health and enhances justice, generating visions for sustainable futures[3].
And differences …
Contrary to the ETUI Green Competence Framework Approach, which uses case studies to develop competences, the European sustainability Competence Framework doesn't provide specific pedagogical practices to build green competences.
Actually, at the time of publishing, the report's authors reckon that their approach has not yet been tested in real settings.
[1] Bianchi, G., Pisiotis, U. and Cabrera Giraldez, M., GreenComp The European sustainability competence framework, Punie, Y. and Bacigalupo, M. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, , p. 2
[2] The ETUI Green Competence Framework Approach is adapted from a pedagogical tool called “Guide compétences développement durable et responsabilité sociétale. 5 compétences pour un développement durable et une responsabilité sociétale”. Conférence des Présidents d’Université. Conférence Grandes Ecoles. 01/06/2016
[3] Bianchi, G., Pisiotis, U. and Cabrera Giraldez, M., GreenComp The European sustainability competence framework, Punie, Y. and Bacigalupo, M. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, , p. 11