'Bronwyn Hayward's magisterial book reminds us that it's not just the biosphere that is threatened through environmental degradation, but our children's imaginations as well, and hence all our future hopes. As we won't achieve sustainable human wellbeing within a flourishing biosphere without citizens who both care about sustainability and are able to act on their concerns, we need to take children seriously as political actors. Bronwyn Hayward argues that, because we cannot live sustainably when social structures and decision-making are unjust, we need to nurture young people as citizens if they are to address the wide-ranging problems we've created: dangerous environmental change, growing social inequality, an unsustainable global economy, and weakening democracies. This wonderful book should be read by all those who think today's childhoods are fine, or who think that children are unfit for democratic involvement, or that we'll get anywhere through individual action -- and also by those who already understand the issues, and the importance of children's involvement in their resolution, as they will be re-inspired; in other words, by everyone.' - William Scott, University of Bath, UK and President, UK National Association for Environmental Education 'This book is a glorious testament to fortitude, to brilliant scholarship, to the wonderful voices of children's engagement, and to real hope that the future can indeed be secure. Our job is to make it so. Bronwyn Hayward shows how we can do this through the enlightened and patient voices of tomorrow's sustainable citizens.' - Tim O'Riordan, University of East Anglia, UK 'Bronwyn Hayward's creative masterpiece describes how we can escape the last 20 years of neo-liberal thinking and its toxic impact on our precious children today and in the future.' - Susan St John, University of Auckland and NZ Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson 'A thoughtful and scholarly investigation of how we can create the conditions for children to become confident, participating ecological citizens, capable of collective imagination and action for a better world. There can be no more important task for the future.' - Jeanette Fitzsimons, Co-Leader of the New Zealand Green Party and Member of Parliament 1995--2009 'Bronwyn Hayward provides a timely, thoughtful and constructive contribution to an important area of work: understanding how children can develop environmental citizenship. The generation growing up today need to be given the skills and opportunities to engage in shaping their future, rather than be expected to inherit the decisions made by adults now. Hayward makes a strong argument for community collaboration and creative imagination as just some of the key ingredients.' Lucy Stone, climate change advisor, UNICEF, UK 'In this inspiring book Bronwyn Hayward explains how children have been left out of the political process or included in only token ways, and the potential cost of this to society. She describes how children can learn to be citizens by engaging in democratic decision-making processes in their local environments. Including children in decision-making benefits the whole of society in unexpected ways. The book is compelling reading for all those interested in the future of democracy and of the environment.' - Russell Wills, New Zealand Children's Commissioner 'This book challenges the myths that our kids don't care about what we do as a society and where we are headed. Bronwyn Hayward shows, with alacrity and sensitivity, exactly how the new generation might determine the future. Thought-provoking, controversial and inspiring.' - David Shearer, Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party

Bronwyn Hayward is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She has lectured internationally on environmental politics, public participation and youth citizenship for twenty years. Bronwyn is also a visiting research fellow with both the UK ESRC-funded RESOLVE (Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment) and the Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group at the University of Surrey. She has been a visiting fellow with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at the University of East Anglia. In addition to her academic work, Bronwyn is a former New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Commissioner with experience in children's television and radio production. She has worked in environmental policy, education and children and youth politics in New Zealand, the UK, the USA and Norway.

1. Ecology and Democracy as if Children Mattered 2. Neoliberalism and Children's Everyday Citizenship:Bowling with a Sponsor 3. Growing Greener Citizens: FEARS, SMART or SEEDs Experiences? 4. Social Agency: Learning how to make a difference with others 5. Environmental Education:Growing Up on Google Earth 6. Embedded Justice: Rethinking Eco-Social Responsibility 7. Decentred Deliberation: Storytelling and Democratic Listening 8. Social Handprints of Ecological Citizens