UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development - Zoom Newsletter August/September 2014

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The global perspective

ESD is part of the proposed Sustainable Development Goals

The Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has reaffirmed ESD as an element of the post-2015 development agenda. The OWG proposed ESD as one of the targets for the education goal for post-2015, which aims to 'ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all'. In the OWG's proposal, ESD is also included to support a goal to combat climate change as well as a goal to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Find out more about the proposed SDGs here >>

UNESCO World Conference on ESD

60+ organisations commit to provide over 30 ESD workshops

34 ESD workshops will be on offer at the forthcoming UNESCO World Conference on ESD, taking place from 10-12 November, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

More than 60 organizations, representing ministries, non-governmental organisations, academia, the private sector and UN agencies (including the Council of Ministers of Education Canada, the Centre for Environment Education, India, and the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness) are cooperating with UNESCO to organize these workshops.

Find out more on the workshops here >>

Your chance to commit to the Global Action Programme on ESD

UNESCO is calling for a second wave of Global Action Programme (GAP) Launch Commitments, inviting ESD stakeholders around the world to make specific commitments to support the GAP. Major commitments will be highlighted at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD.

You can register your commitment here >>

ESD partners

The UNFCCC Secretariat, the Centre for Environment Education and UNESCO launch research project on climate change education and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

Take five minutes to participate in a new survey to share information on a climate change education (or an awareness-raising activity) you or your organization is involved in, to show how it has led to – or you anticipate it leading to – reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The survey comes out of a new joint research project that brings together the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat (UNFCCC), the Centre for Environment Education India (CEE) and UNESCO to assess and analyse the causality between climate change education and the reduction of GHG emissions.

The UNFCCC hosts the Secretariat for the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness, which aims to maximize synergies of UN agencies’ work in this area and to provide support to Parties to the UNFCCC. CEE is India’s nodal agency for the UN Decade of ESD. It’s 'CO2 Pick Right' campaign on climate change and individual lifestyle choices reached over 70,000 schools in India.

UNESCO in action

Making connections: global citizens for sustainable development

A new online collaborative platform, ASPnet in action – Global Citizens connected for Sustainable Development, seeks to enhance interaction and knowledge sharing among UNESCO Associated Schools around the world.

The platform inspires interactive networking and collaboration among ASPnet teachers, students and experts to connect with their peers across the globe by exchanging about school-based initiatives on global citizenship education in support of sustainable development and their respective experiences.

Founded in 1953, the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network brings together more than 9,900 schools from 180 countries.

Check out the platform here >>

ESD’s contribution to enhancing island resilience to be highlighted at the 3rd International Small Island Developing States Conference

UNESCO is presenting 'Enhancing Island Resilience through Education for Sustainable Development' at a side event during the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Apia, Samoa, on 3 September, 2014. As SIDS are among the countries hardest hit by climate change, the side event will highlight successful cases of 'ESD in action' in SIDS and provide examples on ESD’s contribution towards sustainable and resilient societies.

Find out more about UNESCO’s involvement in the SIDS Conference here >>

Leaders for change

“The GAP’s important to me because I think that … we’ve set a really strong foundation. It’s now time to mobilize commitments to build upon that”.

Sally Asker, member of the World Conference International Steering Group and founder of InSIGHT Sustainability Pty Ltd, provides an insight into the importance of the Global Action Programme and speaks of why she first became involved in ESD.

You can find out more about other members of the World Conference International Steering Group here >>

You can find out more about making a GAP commitment here>>

And finally …

Find out more about protecting biodiversity with this short infographic film.

Find out more about UNESCO involvement in ESD on Facebook.

ESD-related events

International Literacy Day
This year’s theme: Literacy and Sustainable Development
8 September 2014

32nd Annual Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) conference, Windhoek, Namibia
This year’s theme: Reflections on the current and emerging ESD issues and practices informing the post-DESD framework programme
9-12 September 2014

UN Climate Summit, New York, United States of America
Youth to highlight the importance of Youth Climate Action
23 September 2014

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