The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the fourth of which is “quality education”, namely: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.  (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are 13 targets, the seventh of which is “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”.

● Current Situation

About the World

Countries Took Education for Sustainable Development Seriously

Photo source: unicef.cn

Education is the key to achieve other sustainable development goals. Countries all over the world have taken sustainable education seriously. Sweden governments request Swedish universities to carry out sustainable development education through legislation. In Canada, Manitoba school authorities request education system be re-positioned based on sustainable development concepts. German governments has officially designated 2500 official programme for sustainable development education. Japan has formally incorporated sustainable development education into national curriculum standards. Currently, more than 70 countries in the world have made it clear that they will support the education for sustainable development. 

Text source: ifeng.com 

About China

Sustainable School Activities 

Photo source:xinhuanet

In 1998, with the vigorous promotion by the Chinese National Committee of UNESCO, China began the experiment of sustainable education with the main purpose of promoting the country’s sustainable development through education for people. China's education for sustainable development emphasizes the integration of sustainable development awareness and actions with school management, teaching and construction, guiding young people to establish a noble sentiment of loving nature and protecting the earth, and cultivating the spirit of responsibility for economic and social development. To cultivate students' knowledge and awareness of sustainable development, we shall take action from ourselves and from the minor things around us, and take practical actions to participate in campus environmental management. It is to develop good habits through students to promote families, communities and citizens to participate in environmental protection.

Text source: Case Studies of Sustainable Development Education

●  Cases

About the World

Pratham’s Hybrid Learning Programme 

Photo source: theprathams.com

Founded in 1995, Pratam is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India. It is committed to improving the quality of education in India by complementing the school work. In 2015, Pratam launched its digital initiative, the Pratham’s Hybrid Learning Programme. It's a community driven approach, serving more than 90,000 children aged from 10 to 14 in about 1,000 villages in India.

Text source: World Economic Forum 2020 Whitepage

About China

Shenzhen Promoting Sustainable Development Capabilities of Young People

Shenzhen just established the China Sustainable Development Capability Research Center, which is one of the global collaborative programmes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With its mission of promoting the sustainable development capability construction of Chinese young people and the public, the programme will explore the establishment of a complete set of standard certification system and output channels for the cultivation of comprehensive sustainable development capability. It will implement the programme in multiple channels. The study and evaluation of sustainable development capacity will help the majority integrate the concept of sustainable development into their personal development strategies, and provide talents and resources for comprehensively promoting the implementation and practice of sustainable development goals.

Text and photo source: sznews.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.