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Center for a Sustainable University
Centerfor a Sustainable University

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Global action program Education for Sustainable Development

UNESCO's global action program Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) kicked off in 2015. The program focuses on establishing sustainability in education and creating change in the educational system in line with the sustainable development goals set forth by the UN. The German UNESCO Commission coordinates the program nationally with help from the federal government, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

What is Education for Sustainable Development?

Education for Sustainable Development aims to change individual thinking and effect sustainable change throughout the world.  Education is the starting point for these endeavors.

What are the global action program goals?

To incorporate sustainable development into education and vice-versa—locally, nationally, and internationally. They focus primarly on groups at a disadvantage, such as women and girly as well as on developing countries.

How will goals be reached?

The UNESCCO’s goals are to be realized across 5 fields of action:

  1. Political support: Policy should integrate and reflect ESD.
  2. Holistic transformation of learning and teaching environments: The sustainability principles underpinning ESD should be established in all education and training programs.
  3. Skills development for teachers and multipliers: Kindergarten and school teachers as well as multipliers should gain strong ESD skills.
  4. Strengthening and mobilizing youth: ESD measures will be developed to target youth.
  5. Support for sustainable development on a local level: ESD programs and networks should be established on urban, communal, and regional levels.

Universität Hamburg is actively involved in implementing the global action program ESD on both a local and national level. Vice-President Jetta Frost has been appointed to the National Platform of the ESD to accompany the agenda-setting process. Members of the University are also involved in one of the six special forums—on higher education institutions—that support the platform.

The KNU participates actively in the implementation of the action program, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (BUE), on a local level, in particular in the devising of program activities on ESD at Hamburg higher education institutions.

Further information: