[Index]
UNECE to bring together environmentalists
and educators
in a bid to promote Education for Sustainable
Development
Geneva, 17 February
2004 - The United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) will host
the first regional meeting on education
for sustainable development in Geneva on
19-20 February in view of the upcoming United
Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development, which will start in 2005.
Education for sustainable development is intended to develop
and strengthen the capacity of individuals and societies to make judgments
and choices in favour of sustainability. In particular, it helps to guide
everyday consumer choices and lifestyles (transport, waste, etc.). It can
promote a shift in people's mindsets and in so doing enable them to make this
world safer, healthier and more prosperous.
The UNECE meeting is expected to start hammering out a regional
strategy for education for sustainable development. Such a strategy is expected
to address a wide range of issues, including curricula, teaching materials,
skills of educators, the importance of public awareness and the contribution
of the media. The intention is to draft recommendations for all levels and
all forms of education, including pre-school and continuing education.
The Russian Federation and Sweden are leading this process,
which was decided upon by the Environment Ministers at the "Environment for
Europe" Conference in Kiev in May 2003. The United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is also expected to contribute to this
initiative, as are others with an interest in education and sustainable development.
The documents for this meeting have been posted on the Internet
at:
http://www.unece.org/env/welcome.html
For more information about education for sustainable development,
please contact:
Ella Behlyarova
UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division
Palais des Nations, office 409
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 23 76
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 01 07
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/ENV/04/P05