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What is the Role of Education in the Sustainable Development Agenda?

Jan 08, 2025

Who wouldn't want to live in a world where poverty has been eradicated, the planet and all its species are protected and there is peace and prosperity for ALL citizens? That is exactly what the sustainable development goals framework aims to achieve.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations member states in a historic summit in September 2015. While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals.

Global issues – such as climate change – urgently require a shift in our lifestyles and a transformation of the way we think and act. To achieve this change, we need new skills, values and attitudes that lead to more sustainable societies. Education systems must respond to this pressing need by defining relevant learning objectives and learning contents, introducing pedagogies that empower learners, and urging their institutions to include sustainability principles in their management structures.

What is Education for sustainable development (ESD)?

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a well-established framework for achieving sustainability. According to UNESCO, ESD gives learners of all ages the knowledge, skills and values to address interconnected global challenges.

In other words, ESD empowers learners of all ages to make informed decisions and take individual and collective action to change society and care for the planet.

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Education is explicitly formulated as a stand-alone goal (SDG 4: Quality Education), but it’s also a means for achieving all the other Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, Education represents a critical strategy in the pursuit of the 2030 agenda.

The key points to remember about ESD are:

  1. ESD is recognised as a key enabler of all SDGs and achieves its purpose by transforming society.

  2. ESD is a lifelong learning process.

  3. ESD focuses on 3 dimensions of learning: the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural— in other words, knowledge, skills, and values/attitudes.

Why is education for sustainable development not mainstream yet?

UNESCO is the United Nations leading agency for ESD and is responsible for the implementation of ESD for 2030. UNESCO has been promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) since 1992. However, the momentum for ESD has never been stronger than it is now.

UNESCO released a report in 2022 stating that Education is not giving students sufficient knowledge to adapt, act and respond to climate change.

They are urging for education curriculums to include environmental education worldwide by 2025.

  • The study analysed educational plans and curricula frameworks in close to 50 countries across all regions.
  • More than half make no reference to climate change while only 19% speak about biodiversity.
  • The study notes a lack of attention to socio-emotional skills and action-oriented competences that are central to environmental and climate action.
  • In an on-line survey of 1,600 teachers and education leaders conducted for the study, one third of respondents indicated that environment-related issues were not part of teacher training.

Our own research at Fifty Shades Greener, and speaking with educators from all over the world, continues to strengthen the narrative that teachers and educators don’t have confidence in their own ability to deliver climate action skills, with the perception that sustainability falls under science only.

What is the Just Transition?

The Just transition is the process of greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind.

Some industries, such as oil refining, will largely disappear; existing industries are undergoing
technological change and new economic sectors are emerging or growing, such as those related to the circular economy. The Green Economy will create new jobs, but it will also force jobs to disappear and people will need to re-skill. Education needs to play a major role in this transformation to ensure nobody is left behind.

It has now been established that working towards a green economy is far more than just reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


Our values and attitudes deeply influence how we approach professional decisions. Green competences are essential components of training programmes, equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills to drive sustainable practices and climate action across all economic sectors.

What is the role of educators in ESD?

According to UNESCO, ESD for 2030 aims to build a more just and sustainable world through strengthening ESD and contributing to the achievement of the 17 SDGs.

As an educator you’re a key element on this roadmap! Your help is needed for a more sustainable world!

There are 4 pillars of the ESD for 2030 roadmap:

  1. Greening schools
  2. Greening curriculum
  3. Greening teacher training and education systems’ capacities
  4. Greening communities

In June 2024, UNESCO released the Greening curriculum guidance. The goal is that 90% of countries will green the national curriculum by 2030.

From now until then, countries need to adapt the guidance for national curriculum review and updates, develop teaching and learning materials in line with the guidance, and conduct capacity-building activities based on the guidance. This course is aligned with this guidance, and contributes to achieving this goal.

As educational institutions look towards the future, they face the challenge of adapting to an increasingly dynamic environment. To remain relevant and effective, Educational institutions must position themselves as enablers of ESD.

Greening Teacher training

One of the four pillars of ESD is greening teacher training, and this pillar can also be an enabler of the other 3 pillars.

By greening teacher training, and giving educators the knowledge and skills to implement sustainability in their classrooms, we are also greening the curriculum. By providing action based learning in our classrooms, we can green schools and green communities.

Therefore greening teacher training is a pivotal step to achieve the sustainable development agenda 2030.

The SustainABILITY Educators Academy is a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the critical gap in educator skills related to integrating green skills and sustainability into curricula at all levels of education, from schools to universities

The SustainABILITY Educators Academy

The Academy aims to upskill educators worldwide, providing them with the tools and knowledge to integrate sustainability into every educational context. By doing so, the Academy supports the global mission to ensure that "Every Job is a Green Job", fostering a future workforce equipped to tackle environmental and social challenges.

  • Action-Based Learning: Educators will engage in practical, action-oriented training that promotes the development of green skills and their integration into curricula across all educational subjects.
  • Empowerment of Educators: Participants will enrich their teaching methods, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students, thus shaping environmentally and socially responsible citizens.
  • Alignment with Global Agendas: The program aligns with international sustainability and education policies, helping institutions meet curriculum requirements and standards while advancing national and global educational agendas.

Ready to bring sustainability to the heart of your curriculum? Explore the SustainABILITY Educators Academy and see how FSG can help your institution embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into your curriculum seamlessly. Click here to learn more or book a free call with us to start making a real impact today!

 


 

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