By Prof. Suzanne Piscopo & Dr Karen Mugliett, Home Economics lecturers from the Faculty of Education at UM
Climate change is fundamentally a family concern.
The important stake families have in combatting and reducing climate change was stated very bluntly in 2011 by Al Gore in his book the âInconvenient Truthâ, where among others he made a strong call to action to âchoose a future for which our children will thank us.â
It is with such vision that the United Nations has chosen âFamilies & Climate Change: International Year of the Family + 30â as its theme for the International Day of Families 2024. Celebrated annually on 15 May, the main aim this year is to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families in different ways and the role families can play in climate action. Poor air quality, disruptions to agriculture and food systems and extreme weather events that displace people are but a few of the ways how climate change affects family well-being.
Yet the other side of the coin also holds true: Families contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions through their food choices, electricity usage, transport choices and overall consumption patterns. Thus climate action is urgently needed even at the family level, by all members of the family.
The UN is suggesting that education is critical to guide families and give them the tools to change consumption habits and to advocate for meaningful and effective climate action. Instilling sustainable habits and climate awareness is essential as a part of lifelong education. Starting at an early age is priority and to quote the UN: âIntegrating circular economy principles into early childhood education can help build a sustainable economic model based on minimizing waste and regenerating natural resources.â
The theme of this yearâs International Day of Families is very meaningful to Malta in 2 ways:
- Firstly, Malta was one of the countries where the idea of having a special day celebrating the value of families as the central building blocks of thriving communities was officially launched. In November-December 1993, Valletta hosted a world non-governmental organisation forum titled "Launching the International Year of the Family, 1994: Strengthening Families for the Well-being of Individuals and Societies". This forum was very well-attended by different NGOs from around the world and it also put Malta on the global platform as a promoter of the need to protect and sustain our families. The local Maltese Home Economics professional community was a protagonist in leading and facilitating this event.
- Indeed, the second reason why the theme of this year is meaningful to Malta is because Malta is one of the countries where Home Economics education is still offered to the majority of children as part of their compulsory schooling. And Home Economics education can instill climate action life-skills! In all state schools and many non-state schools students have Home Economics in Form 1 and 2 and can opt to specialise in it in Form 3 to 5. Home Economics courses are available all the way up to tertiary education, with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics offered at the University of Malta which can be followed by a Master in Teaching and Learning degree, or by several other Masters degrees dealing with well-being of individuals and families. Pursuing a PhD in Home Economics is also possible locally or abroad.
At this point, some might be asking âBut isnât Home Economics just about cooking and cleaning?â
And the simple answer is âYes -- Modern day Home Economics still does tackle cooking and cleaning, among a myriad of many other skills, but it looks at these important skills from a much broader lens.â Contemporary Home Economics courses as taught in Secondary, post-Secondary and teriary institutions, and also as presented in community courses for adults, are all about nurturing, strengthening and reorienting lifeskills within a framework of promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles. And climate action is automatically included!
From describing the value of plant-forward diets based on minimally-processed foods and sustainably-sourced ingredients, to offering hints on water- and energy-smart shopping for food, clothes and appliances, to helping learners identify feasible strategies for not-generating waste or reducing waste of any kind, Home Economics offers learners of different ages the opportunities to reflect on their own lifestyles and/or household management behaviours and to seek entry-points where they can be more sustainable and more climate-friendly now or in the future.
Home Economics aims to nurture and empower smart responsible citizens.
Whether it is a 7 year-old learning how to choose local and seasonal vegetables and fruit, or a group of teenagers picking out an evening outfit at a second life shop, or a family designing their green rooftop garden, or an older adult sprucing up an old piece of furniture rather than throwing it away, a Home Economics course can help foster these critical thinking and problem-solving skills, presenting actions which can all be of benefit in combating climate change.
In encouraging young and old individuals to use their mind, heart, time and money wisely as they are making their consumption, household management and lifestyle choices, Home Economics has a lot to contribute to human and planetary health. We are lucky to have Home Economics education provided in differet settings here in Malta. But we need to to expand and strengthen its reach in primary and post-secondary schools and in the community so that directly and indirectly families are empowered with the right messages and lifeskills. One cannot deny that family choices to mitigate climate change can benefit from a good dose of Home Economics education.
Some tips for families to help mitigate climate change:
For less use of fuel/energy ...
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For less use of fuel/energy and water, for more calorie yields per acre of land, to lessen methane production and to avoid food waste ...
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For less use of fuel/energy and water, and to maximise the life of all the resources used in production ...
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For less use of fuel/energy and water
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For better air quality inside and outside the home and maybe even to provide shade
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