We developed this project to address the overwhelming nature of decisions related to sustainability and climate protection. When confronted with challenges and personal dilemmas, people often default to habitual choices. These issues increasingly emerge in seminar settings, where they can lead to polarization within groups. In response, our objective was to create methods for educational work that tackle the complexities of sustainability dilemmas. We aimed to test and evaluate these methods with key multipliers and make them widely accessible through a digital toolbox in English, German, Estonian, and Polish. The toolbox is designed to go beyond a simple collection of methods. It delves into the decision-making processes surrounding sustainability, offers practical examples, and highlights the critical role of facilitation in managing group dynamics and fostering constructive dialogue.
We applied for this project because Estonia, Poland, and Germany face similar challenges concerning the climate crisis. To drive meaningful change toward sustainable thinking and action across society, a collective shift in mindset is needed - one that prioritizes collaboration over polarization. Through joint discussions and our professional work, we have observed that many daily decisions are made out of habit or convenience, and often under the strain of overwhelming responsibility. Decisions related to sustainability are particularly complex, involving multiple factors and dilemmas. This makes it harder for individuals to act, and educational settings often fail to provide clear, satisfying answers about what is “best” in concrete terms. The project addressed the need to approach these dilemmas methodically while considering the psychological aspects of decision-making. Our goal was to develop educational methods that facilitate constructive dialogue with target groups, fostering engagement and understanding rather than polarization.