UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014) Which implementation for Small Islands Developing States? UNESCO HQ Presentation, ESD section, At Small Islands Voice Planning Meeting, Bequia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, th July 2005

SIDS committed to the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) « Further action is required by small island developing States, with the necessary support of the international community, to further education for sustainable development through (…): (e) Integrating national sustainable development strategies and environmental education within the education systems, with particular support from UNESCO and regional environmental organizations and in the framework of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.» Quotation from the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND : Emergence then definition of the concept of sustainable development during many world summits December 2002: resolution 57/254 of the General Assembly of the United Nations - proclaims the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, designates UNESCO as the lead agency for the promotion of the Decade Why a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)?

What is education for sustainable development?  Education empowering people to commit themselves to sustainability  Education for democracy  Education at all levels of education systems and in all social contexts

Objectives for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) Facilitate networking, linkages, exchange and interaction among stakeholders in ESD  Foster increased quality of teaching and learning in education for sustainable development  Help countries make progress towards and attain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through ESD efforts  Provide countries with new opportunities to incorporate ESD into education reform efforts

The four main thrusts of the DESD  PROMOTING AND IMPROVING BASIC EDUCATION  REORIENTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS  BUILDING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS  PROVIDING PRACTICAL TRAINING

Which challenges for SIDS?  Review status in relation to the Decade objectives and the IIS  Capitalize on the lessons learnt from environmental education  Go beyond environmental education to implement education for sustainable development  Reach all stakeholders, particularly policy-makers and decision-makers as well as private sector, civil society, etc.  Establish partnerships

Challenges at global level  Identify relevant approaches to ensure inclusion of values and principles of SD into curricula and teaching/learning approaches  Identify and disseminate good practices  Identify key actors for partnerships  Mobilise media and the public at large

Challenges for UNESCO  Catalyse new partnerships with the private sector, youth and media groups  Encourage proper monitoring and evaluation  Encourage a research agenda and serve as forum for relevant research on ESD  Share good ESD practices  Link countries implementing ESD curricula, policies and research with those requesting help  Convene flexible working groups on specific topics

Achievements to date  International launch in New York, March 1 st, 2005  Draft of the International Implementation Scheme available  Logo of the Decade available  A concept paper on the linkages between the Decade and other initiatives has been developed  A number of information materials are available on the DESD website  Regional and national launches of the Decade  Development of regional strategies

« We are all inhabitants of the global island. All of us, rich and poor, weak and strong, whether citizens of great power or tiny atoll, are linked in webs of opportunity and vulnerability. We should have known this already, but it has taken a tsunami to press the point home. The question is whether we will act over the long term, not just in small islands but everywhere, in the same spirit of unity that characterizes the current moment. » Kofi Annan Secretary-General of the United Nations at the International Meeting for the 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the SIDS, Mauritius, Port Louis, January 2005 A worldwide challenge…