GUPES Green Gown Awards 2016 – Latin America & the Caribbean – REDIES - Highly Commended

National advocacy and management of environmental indicators in the Costa Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions - REDIES

By joining REDIES, each institution commits to the systematization of its environmental performance through compliance indicators and quantitative and qualitative indicators classified into five thematic areas. As of this year, our network has a web based IT platform and a manual that has allowed systematizing all indicators. Because of these implementations 92.9% of our institutions have environmental policies; 78.6% run energy management plans; 71.4% have water management plans; 78.6% carry out solid waste management plans; 42.9% are on route to reducing their emissions; 59.3% have implemented Environmental Education programs; and 64.3% are implementing community outreach programs based on environmental issues. Volunteers from our network’s institutions have participated for 5 years in national education programs on waste management. REDIES has organized five national forums.

Top 3 learnings

1. We have strengthened our capacity as well as increased our collective learning.
2. Through partnerships built on trust, respect, and the transfer of knowledge, as well as individual and group experiences, we are achieving our goals.
3. Consistency in our communication and the reflection of our purpose has enabled us to stay relevant and achieve plausible results.

What it means to win

“For EARTH University, an institution that has supported REDIES since its inception, this adds momentum to our efforts of strengthening the network and continuing projects we have undertaken.

Furthermore, it will strengthen the relationship with other educational institutions, both public and private, promoting the development and management of environmental education in Costa Rica.”

Danield Sherrar, Provost, EARTH University

Videos

• National advocacy and management of environmental indicators in the Costa Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions - REDIES (click to hide)