Learning today for a sustainable future

The international community has been striving to create a world that is prosperous, healthy and equitable.  That was the purpose of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were adopted by the United Nations in 2000.  Countries have been striving to achieve them for the last 15 years and have made great progress over that time.  The number of people living in absolute poverty has been halved. The number of malaria deaths has been cut by 30 per cent.   For every 100 boys in primary education there are now 97 girls, up from 92 in 1999. But much remains to be done.

Next September, the UN General Assembly will adopt a new set of goals to replace the MDGs.  Rather than focusing on the challenges facing developing countries – as the MDGs did – the new goals will tackle truly global concerns such as reconciling social and economic development with the requirements of a healthy environment. They will be called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Achieving the SDGs demands a new way of thinking, and a new approach to education.  That is why Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an absolute priority if we are to succeed.  This kind of education must give people the tools they need to create jobs, and at the same time deliver the knowledge and skills required to protect the environment and build communities that value equity and diversity.  It is essential if people are to reach their full potential both now and in the future.

ESD delivers this kind of thinking.  It has a major role to play in helping people apply the values, skills and knowledge of sustainable development to local, national and international development issues in order to solve the complex problems that societies face today.  UNESCO – lead agency in the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-14) – has been working with countries, ministries, teachers and students to develop effective approaches to ESD.

It is now hosting the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development from 10 to 12 November in Nagoya.  Held in the presence of His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince of Japan, and co-organized with the Japanese Government, the event will bring together 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including education ministers and vice ministers, as well as key stakeholders and youth representatives. Together, these participants will take stock of progress achieved over the last decade and then develop a Global Action Programme for future work, under the banner of “Learning Today for a Sustainable Future.”

The countries participating have high expectations.  They believe in the transformative power of education to raise awareness and mobilize support for policy changes and corporate engagement.  Without a robust commitment to ESD from all countries of the world, the new SDGs will be very difficult to achieve.

The writer is Director-General of UNESCO