Geneva
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: ella.behlyarova@unece.org
Ref: ECE/ENV/04/P05
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Information Unit
Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 44 44
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 05 05
Email: info.ece@unece.org
Reproduction is permitted provided that the source is acknowledged.
