GreenSCENT: Celebrating Three Years and Opening the Path to the Future

 

 

On December 16-17, 2024, the European Parliament Rome Office hosted the GreenSCENT project’s General Assembly and Final Conference, marking the culmination of three years of dedicated effort in advancing education for environmental sustainability. While notable achievements were celebrated, the focus was also on shaping the next steps in this ongoing journey.

A Journey of Progress: Key Highlights from the Past Three Years

The GreenSCENT initiative has made significant strides since its inception, becoming a cornerstone of educational innovation for a greener future. Over the past three years, the project has:

• Developed the GreenComp Framework: A guide to building environmental competencies among citizens and institutions.
• Promoted Citizen Science and Co-Creation: Through innovative piloting projects, fostering engagement at the grassroots level.
• Advanced Digital Demonstrators and Curricula: Integrating state-of-the-art digital tools to educate and empower communities.
• Piloted Competence Frameworks: Testing and refining educational methodologies to ensure widespread applicability and success.

Rome Meeting: Sharing Achievements and Preparing for What’s Next

Day 1 – General Assembly

The General Assembly served as a platform for reviewing work packages (WPs) and deliverables, with highlights including:

• Curriculum Development and Certification: Updates on deliverables like the ECQA’s European Certification for Climate and Environmental Literacy (ECCEL).
• Digital Innovation: Presentations on iterative development of digital tools to engage diverse audiences.
• Roundtable Discussions: Insights from the External Advisory Board to refine strategies for future implementations.

Day 2 – Final Conference

The Final Conference transitioned from review to forward-thinking discussions, featuring:

• Achievements Recap: Led by Vanni Resta (GreenSCENT Project Coordinator) and Michael Reiner (ECQA), this session celebrated the progress made over the 36 months.
• Youth Innovation Highlights: Showcasing the winners of June’s Open Innovation Challenge, demonstrating the power of young minds in driving sustainable change.
• European Certification Simulation: A practical look at ECCEL’s application, led by Gabriele Sauberer.
• External Evaluations and Future Directions: Featuring key stakeholders, including representatives from European institutions and academia, to outline the next phase of GreenSCENT’s journey.

Opening the Door to the Future

The Rome gatherings were more than a retrospective. They laid the groundwork for the path forward:

• Expanding Global Reach: Exploring GreenSCENT’s application in Egypt and MENA regions, as well as aligning with the European Climate Pact.
• Innovative Education: Launching new educational projects, such as “Clima Bene Comune,” and discussing opportunities for collaborative citizen science efforts.
• Strengthening Partnerships: Engaging with key EU-level policy actors and projects like ECF4CLIM to amplify the initiative’s impact.

A Vision for Tomorrow

As we concluded these two days of reflection and planning, one thing became clear: GreenSCENT is not just a project—it is a movement. The work of the past three years has paved the way for an even broader and more ambitious effort to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools they need to lead the green transition.

Together, we celebrated the journey so far and set our sights on the many milestones yet to come. The future of GreenSCENT is one of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable world.