DESD in the UK

Two conferences marked the beginning of the Decade for Sustainable Development (DESD) in the U.K. The first conference was organised to mark the beginning of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. “A Sustainable Development in Education”, took place in early June 2005 and was held in Stirling, Scotland. Six months later, in December 2005, the UK National Commission for UNESCO held another conference, 'From Local to Global: The Long-term Vision for the Decade' at the Institute of Education, London. Its aims were to:

Provide ESD practitioners, policy makers, civil society, and the general public with an opportunity to discuss UNESCO's ESD strategy.
Identify the UK's contribution to the Decade's international strategy and how in turn it can help sustainable development practices in the UK.
Showcase relevant practices and policies of ESD practitioners, Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations, NGOs, civil society and the private sector.

Uk DESD Conference Since the conference, the National Commisssion for UNESCO has set up and hosted a Working Group on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), chaired by Dr. Douglas Bourn. Apart from the three aims indicated above which are also part of the mandate of the Working Group, the ESD Working Group also works to assist HM Gvdrnment Departments with relevant policy and best practices to increase awarenesss of sustainable development through education, and to develop indicators to monitor progress in the UK.

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Alongside the National Commison for UNESCO, many sectors of UK society have embraced the ideologies behind ESD and actively attempted to implement it into their daily lives. Government departments are providing information, tools and funding for ESD-related projects. Local councils tweak governmental recommendations to suit their local communities and offer hands-on support for schools and community organisations and even passionate individuals. Schools have made tremendous levels of progress in integrating concepts of ESD into all aspects of school life. Other academic institutions, such as universities, have become world-renown centres of research on ESD and host ESD-related professional development courses for the leaders in society. Community, youth and other civil society organisations engage local communities, urging them to become more vigilant, sustainable development conscious individuals.

Upcoming Events

Read about the latest DESD events coming soon by clicking through to the diary pages here...