United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP, France

Mission

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO is the lead agency for SDG 4: Quality Education. 

Actions

Following the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the ESD for 2030 was launched at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in May 2021, with the aim of accelerating the implementation of ESD to deliver all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with education fulfilling a key role.

The GAP is the follow up to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).  IAU fully supported and contributed to the UN DESD and UNESCO GAP on ESD. IAU now is again a key partner in the ESD for 2030 Network and Greening Education Partnership

Contact for sustainable development activities

The ESD Section acts as the Secretariat for the ESD-Net 2030 and Greening Education Partnership. It offers coordination support to Member States, National Commissions, stakeholders, UNESCO programme and thematic areas, and UNESCO Field Offices while helping to ensure the coherence of organization-wide activities. Additionally, UNESCO convenes several ad hoc groups to participate in the implementation of ESD including the partner networks.

International Association of Universities, official partner of UNESCO (associate status)

International Association of Universities is a key partner Network to ESD and within the ESD for 2030 Network. 

Through its actions, initiatives and in particular through the creation of the IAU Global Portal on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development  (www.iau-hesd.net) and the IAU HESD Cluster Network, IAU contributes to scaling up action and initiatives developed by higher education institutions, organisations and HE stakeholders from around the world in response to the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Websites

News for this organisation

Re-thinking higher education and inspiring transformation for a more sustainable future

We live in times when urgency demands agency in HE towards sustainability. This session approaches this conundrum and asks how higher education stakeholders can cut through the noise and shape policy and practice to repurpose education towards the common good and well-being of people and planet.

Higher Education and COP29

With COP29 starting this week, the IAU provides an overview of events of interest for higher education.

UNESCO launches new publications for “Greening Education Partnership”

On World Environment Day, UNESCO unveils two new concrete tools for greening schools and curricula, highlighting the need to empower young people to play a concrete role in tackling the climate crisis.

Transforming Education Together: 2023 ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo

The ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo, which commenced on December 18, 2023, marked a successful gathering at the United Nations University with the presence of representatives from more than 80 countries. This year’s meeting focused on sharing the implementation and progress of the ESD-2030 national initiatives, trends, challenges and innovations within the framework of Agenda 2030 and discussing the action points for the next two years 2024-2025.

Rio Declaration 1992 and Rio+20 2012 renewed commitments from HE

The UN Conferences on Sustainable Development, in particular in 1992 and 2012, marked milestones for change and provided a platform for exchange, for all stakeholders. Higher Education strongly advocated for its role early on and mobilised the HE community to recognise the need for action and take the next steps. IAU and partners have been supporting these efforts in various ways.

2015 HESI Event before COP21: Higher Education for Climate Change Action

IAU is pleased to draw your attention to this Conference organised by HESI and supported by the IAU, which took place at UNESCO Headquarters.

Post-Nagoya Summary

The UNESCO World Conference on Educations for Sustainable Development (WC-ESD) 2014 adopts The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration and the launches the Global Action Programme.

ESD after 2014: Launching the Global Action Programme

The Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) seeks to generate and scale-up ESD action. It is intended to make a substantial contribution to the post-2015 agenda. The overall goal of the GAP is to generate and scale up action in all levels and areas of education and learning to accelerate progress towards sustainable development.

World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development 2014 Called for Renewed Commitment by all Countries

To mark the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the beginning of the Post 2015 agenda activities, UNESCO and the Government of Japan held the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development - Learning Today for a Sustainable Future. The World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, closed on November 12, 2014 with a declaration calling for urgent action to mainstream ESD and include ESD in the post-2015 development agenda. The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration calls on all nations to implement the Global Action Programme on ESD (GAP) to move the ESD agenda forward.

Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development adopted at UNESCO ESD Conference (17-19 May 2021)

IAU applauds to the adoption and the strong call for engagement for ESD at all education levels, including Higher Education

UNESCO in action for gender equality: 2022-2023 Report

During the UNESCO General Conference, UNESCO launched a new report on gender equality. IAU was pleased to attend the launch event on 7 November 2023.

Greening Education Hub at COP 28 and related activities

Education and Higher Education at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) taking place in Dubai from 30 November -12 December 2023.

UNITWIN Network on ESD and Social Transformation (UNiESD&ST) launched

The newly launched network will foster sustainability learning with teacher education and capacity building

Opportunity for students to advocate for climate education in higher education

The workshop is part of the Youth and Education project, a collaboration of UNESCO, UNEP, Students Organizing for Sustainability (SOS) International, and USPESD. 

HESI+10 Global Forum

Role of higher education in building back better from COVID-19 and advancing the 2030 Agenda

SOTG 2022 - Call for Participation of Youth Engagement Program

Sustainable on the Go Youth Engagement Program - deadline for applications extended to 3 June

Calling Students to take part in Unesco Transforming Education Survey

Contribute to the discussion and make your voice heard for transforming education for a sustainable future! Share and support students if you are a teacher.

Call for Universities to get involved in the Unesco Mondiacult Conference

Find out how Higher Education is represented at MONDIACULT, UNESCO 2022 - Mexico City on September 26-27, 2022, and get involved

Transforming Education Youth Declaration 2022 & TES follow up

Read the Youth Declaration launched on 19 September for the UN Transforming Education Summit in NYC and explore the Transforming Education Hub

Youth Consultation Report: What do youth say about higher education in the future?

An in-depth consultation with more than 100 young people from 43 countries defined the challenges, improvements, and opportunities for higher education in 2050 in a new report by UNESCO (2022)

COP27 - Climate Action and Education

Education will play an important role at the 2022 COP in Egypt

ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on ESD Pedagogies - Recordings Available!

To promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and mutual learning ESD-Net 2030 is organizing a series of learning webinars in March, May and September 2023 on ESD pedagogy to highlight and promote innovative practices in ESD. This interactive learning series will focus on sharing and strengthening pedagogical approaches and key competencies in ESD through a broad range of topics and issues. 

Nominations open for 2023 UNESCO-Japan ESD Prize

Do you know of an innovative and established project for ESD? Consider suggesting it for nomination for the UNESCO-Japan ESD Prize!

ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on ESD Pedagogies

The third edition of the ESD-Net learning webinar which will take place on Wednesday, 31st of May 2023, 13:00-15:00 CET. This will be the occasion to take part in distinct workshops that will highlight innovative practices and key competencies in ESD through a broad range of topics and issues. You will be invited to contribute to knowledge-sharing activities, collaboration, and mutual learning to strengthen your knowledge of ESD pedagogical approaches and capacity to implement ESD in your local context.

ESD Okayama Award 2023 - Open for applications!

Okayama City and the ESD Okayama Award Steering Board are calling for initiatives that contribute to the spread of ESD in local communities in Japan and abroad and serve as models for the world. The award is looking for projects that educate and develop people to learn from each other and take action toward the creation of a sustainable society from various perspectives, such as environmental conservation, community development, inheritance of traditional culture, and diversity and inclusion, and more. Be sure to send your applications!

ANGEL Conference 2023

Conceived as a major, internationally focused gathering, the ANGEL Conference 2023 aims to bring together interested parties from all backgrounds for two exciting days of sessions showcasing and discussing research, projects, and new developments connected to Global Education and Learning or Global Citizenship Education, and other related fields
such as Development Education, Human Rights Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Peace, and Intercultural Education.

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