United Nations Decade > Concept

UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATION ?

Taking into account the recommendations of Agenda 21 adopted at the Rio summit in 1991, formal, non formal and informal education must give to each the ability to evaluate the problems of sustainable development and help to develop attitudes, decision making and practical approaches for sustainable development. The setting up of education for sustainable development ESD is essential and beneficial for both developed and emerging countries in order that the wishes of the Johannesburg Declaration, adopted at the global summit for development in 2002, become reality : « to make global society more humane, more helpful and more respectful of the dignity of individuals ».

The overall goal of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) is to integrate, through a dynamic concept, the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning. This educational effort will encourage changes in behaviour that will create a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society for present and future generations. No universal model for ESD exists. If one has general agreement of the concept there exist a number of approaches, which can be taken. Each country must define its objectives, priorities and the methods to be adopted to respond to their educational needs in the 3 areas of environment, sociology and economics as well as considering their cultural context.

If schools are to remain in the forefront of education for sustainable development all the others modes of formal, non-formal and informal education for life long learning must also make a contribution.

The success of the driving process implemented for sustainable development depends therefore on the behaviour of the person in charge and the decisions made by the individuals, which participate. This presupposes that education should become more widespread as a structural element within the framework of sustainable development. This is an extremely ambitious aim because it has to be carried out within the framework of a project in which all dimensions of society, be they local, regional, national or international, are taken into account.