What is Education for Sustainable Development?

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) encourages us to explore the profound interdependencies of ecological, societal, and economic systems.

ESD is about respecting and preserving our histories, valuing culture and community, caring for others and the environment, and taking action to create a fair, healthy, and safe world for all beings. ESD also supports flexibility, creativity, critical reflection, and fosters a sense of personal responsibility for the economy, society, and environment.

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

The United Nations has declared 2005 – 2014 to be the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD). In March 2005, Canada officially signed the Vilnius Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, committing this country to action in this area.

The UNESCO strategy for the Decade states: “Education for sustainable development (ESD) has come to be seen as a process of learning how to make decisions that consider the long-term future of the economy, ecology and equity of all communities. Building the capacity for such futures-oriented thinking is a key task of education.”

In Canada, Learning for a Sustainable Future has taken the lead on a variety of initiatives that support the UNDESD.