About the conference

The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a universal conference convening decision-makers and experts from the world’s education and sustainable development communities. The Conference is organized by (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany and the German Commission for UNESCO as an advisory partner receiving their huge support.

Why this conference?

Nowadays, our planet and its populations are under mounting pressure. Human-caused climate change, inadequate and carelessly exploited resources, increasing temperatures and sea levels, pollution, and dwindling biodiversity are just some of the challenges that governments and populations are currently facing around the world.

Considering this, UNESCO is glad to share that the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development will be run from 17 to 19 May 2021 in Berlin, Germany.

The Conference will:

• discuss and raise awareness of these challenges,
• highlight the pivotal role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a key driver for the successful achievement of all SDGs, and
• produce momentum for strengthening ESD in policy and practice.

Details of the conference 

Location: Berlin, Germany

Conference dates: 17^th to 19^th May 2021

Host institutions: UNESCO & German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Conference theme: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Benefits

UNESCO can only support the travel and lodging expenses for some Member State delegations from Least Developed Countries, as well as few applicants selected according to the Call for Proposals while it cannot accept any other funding requests.

Conference agenda

Firstly, it will kick-off ESD for 2030, the UNESCO program related to ESD for the next decade, while also enhancing global understanding of sustainable development problems, and the crucial role of ESD as a key enabler for the successful implementation of all SDGs; the Conference will:

• adopt the Berlin Declaration that will comprise a call for immediate action and commitments from the participants of the Conference;
• enhance stakeholder commitments to the new framework ESD for 2030, including country initiatives for ESD for 2030;
• Increase and reinforce partnerships and networking opportunities for ESD.

Guideline for participation

The Conference is not an open-for-all meeting. Only those getting a personalized invitation can participate.

All UNESCO Member States shall be invited to participate in the event and nominate a delegation, including participants coming from various backgrounds.

Additionally, UNESCO launched a call for a proposal. Through this, it invites other stakeholders, including policy-makers working in the areas of education and sustainable development, education practitioners, civil society, NGOs, experts, and members of the development community and private sector experts to participate.

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For more information, please contact future.esd@unesco.org.

For greater details about UNESCO’s ESD conference, visit its website.