Creating Sustainable Communities Through Environmental Sustainability Education: A Case Study of Transition Town Peterborough

Abstract

This study contributes to literature and practical approaches to examining local organizations involved in environmental sustainability education, and the utilization of the cultural historical activity theory. Using a case study research design, the study examined a local organization located in Peterborough Ontario, called Transition Town Peterborough, to understand how environmental sustainability education, as well as informal learning addressed the organization’s goals. Transition Town is a non-governmental organization, with a focus on acting locally around climate change, peak oil, and localization. This report examined different materials available (website, community magazine, social media). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the organization to explore individual perspectives on the organization and how learning is implicitly or explicitly incorporated in the organization. The study concludes with a recommendation around learning and environmental sustainability education in the organization to target issues that they are facing, and the tensions between the themes of the CHAT framework.