UNESCO Roadmap for Implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development

Rapid, sweeping, and long-lasting change is altering our planet’s environment in an unprecedented manner, while societies are undergoing profound shifts in their demographic makeup and social and economic fabrics. Political agreements, financial incentives or technological solutions alone do not suffice to grapple with the challenges of sustainable development. It will require a wholesale change in the way we think and the way we act – a rethink of how we relate to one another and how we interact with the ecosystems that support our lives. To create a world that is more just, peaceful and sustainable, all individuals and societies must be equipped and empowered by knowledge, skills and values as well as be instilled with a heightened awareness to drive such change. This is where education has a critical role to play. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is about shaping a better tomorrow for all – and it must start today.