Mr Chairman,
Italy associates itself with the statement made by the European Union on behalf of its Member States and would like to further highlight some specific issues.
The added value of the CSD implementation cycles lies on the special focus given to the interrelatedness and on the opportunity to define policy proposals in an integrated manner. Developing and developed countries need to face sustainability challenges through a global authoritative voice and a shared commitment, which can be described in the idea of a strengthened governance, to which Italy is strongly committed. More than a year has passed since the UNEP Governing Council by its decision 25/4, established a consultative group of Ministers and high-level representatives, co-chaired by Italy and Kenya. The group has concluded its work and presented a set of options for improving International Environmental Governance to the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its eleventh special session, with a view to providing inputs to the United Nations General Assembly.
The urgent challenges that the world is facing such as financial and economic crises, climate change, resource shortages, poverty, and the uneven distribution of both the benefits and impacts of modern development will not be solved without harnessing the potential of educated and motivated citizens. A strong political commitment and decisive action is required to effectively tackle these challenges.
The thematic issues of the current CSD session can benefit from the use of effective instruments as education to empower societies also for the development of new economic thinking. ESD contributes to creating resilient, healthy and sustainable societies through a systemic and integrated approach.
Meeting the challenges of this implementation cycle requires an appropriate reorientation of institutions, programmes and practices. Important actions to take are encouraging research, developing curricula, using creative teaching methods, training teachers and having supportive educational institutions.
Italy is actively involved in the implementation process at a national regional and international level. The implementation process of the UNECE Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development.
Within the Marrakech process, Italy is chairing a TF on ?Education for Sustainable Consumption? and has developed guidelines and recommendations to introduce sustainable consumption into formal learning processes.
Dear colleagues, Italy is strongly convinced that any investment in education for sustainable development (ESD) is an investment in the future and for this reason we will continue to support initiatives in the field of education and to create the appropriate linkages and synergies with other relevant processes.
Thank you.
