1. The Role of Education in the Pursuit of a Sustainable Future LSF AGM
Charles Hopkins
UNESCO and UNU Chairs, York University

2. What is Sustainable Development
Global Change (environment)
Globalization (economic)
Human Development (social/culture)
Sustainable Development
Plus concepts of:
intergenerational responsibility
Need verses greed / equity
Social justice, etc.

3. Many Questions
Sustaining what?
For whom?

4. Northern Issues Sustainable production and consumption
0.5 trillion in advertising
50% targeted at USA
Working with “others”
Developing global citizenship
Redistribution of wealth and power
Improving democracy

5. The Power of SD Remains Dormant Locked in Isolated Issues
Clean Air
AIDS Prevention
Equity
Climate Change
Sustainable Development
Peace
Sustainable Consumption
Poverty Eradication
Bio-diversity
Population Growth

6. Many Paths to SD Good legislation/governance Economic incentives
Overcoming corruption
Environmental protection
Human rights/security
Infrastructure (roads to banking)
40 issues identified in Agenda 21

7. “Education is a key and vital element in moving sustainability forward…” Report of the UN Sec. General
Agenda 21(Rio)
Millennium Goals
Earth Charter
UN Commission for Sustainable
Development (CSD)
WSSD (Johannesburg)

8. 2. Facilitating Development Through Improving Quality Education
100 million children ages 6 to 11 never attend school in the developing countries
90% of school aged are in developing/emerging nations
Millions more are “under- educated” in both the South and the North

9. Northern Problem As Well
Hard to serve students suffer
Preferred learning style other than reading
Poverty related issues
Irrelevant curricula
Home/family related issues
Student/school conflict

10. The 4 Major Thrusts of ESD
1 Public awareness and understanding
2 Access to quality basic education
3 Reorienting existing education
4 Training programs for all sectors
Agenda , UNESCO-96, UNCSD -98, JPOI-2002

11. Reorienting formal ed. includes addressing
Values
Principles
Perspectives
Knowledge
Skills
Buildings
Program
Practices and Actions
What we value and evaluate

12. UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005 to 2014
UN General Council Resolution Dec 2002
UNESCO is the lead UN Agency
Mainly a coordinating role
Integrate with other Decades and programs
Mainly up to each country / state
Organization / institution / private sector etc.

13. Strengths Model: A Starting Point
No single discipline/group/teacher can do it all
Every discipline/group/teacher can contribute something
Some can take lead roles in reorientation

14. Reorienting Informal and Non Formal Ed
What can you contribute that could help the UN DESD?

15. www.esdtoolkit.org www.earthcharter.org www.unesco.org/education/tlsf
2 Key Websites

16. Regional Centres of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development
A contribution by the United Nations University to the
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

17. RCE Objectives
To help implement the education, public awareness and training components of Agenda 21, and the Millennium Dev. Goals
To research and develop ESD
To contribute to the success of the UN DESD
To assist national sustainability plans

18. UNU Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Zoo / etc
Secondary
Peers
Gov’t agencies
Elementary
Society
Corp training
Preschool
Life Exp.
Methodology
Engage the esd messengers (current and potential) within a community
Work together to identify and address community needs, relevant issues
Focus on improving pedagogy
Focus on integrating delivery mechanisms

19. Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Zoo
Secondary
Peers
Gov’t
Elementary
Society
Corp training
Pre school
Life Exp.
Local Information
Sources
Regional/National
Local Government
Private Sector
Research (HE, NGO) etc.
Methodology 2
Engage the sources of locally relevant sustainabilty information
Infuse local issues data, information and programmes
Identify emerging issues
Collaborate with the messengers

20. UNU Regional Centre of ESD Expertise
Messengers
Non Formal
Formal
Informal
Ngo’s
Tertiary
Media
Zoo/etc
Secondary
Peers
Gov Agencies
Elementary
Society
Corp Training
Preschool
Life Exp.
Local Information
Sources
Regional/National
Local Government
Private Sector
Research (HE, NGO) etc.
Outcomes
Improved academic outcomes
More knowledgeable/supportive citizenry
More sustainably oriented production and consumption
Perhaps a shift in behaviour as learning is relevant and in scale etc.
Process is crucial

21. Why do we teach what we teach ?
To preserve culture _____%
To prepare/train for work _____%
To care for environment _____%
To live a full, meaningful life _____%
To contribute to society _____%
To be creative and resourceful _____%
To live a religious life _____%
To live together in peace _____%
To be self-sufficient _____%
What is the vision for our schools ?