What is education for sustainable development?
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) sees education as the key to unlocking progress in all the global development goals. It teaches individuals to make informed decisions and take action, both individually and collectively, to change society and protect the planet. It equips people of all ages with the knowledge, skills, values, and ability to tackle issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, overuse of resources, and inequality that impact the well-being of people and the planet.
ESD advocates for learning that is:
- Cognitive: Improving how we think and understand information.
- Socio-emotional: Building social skills, empathy and emotional intelligence.
- Behavioral: Encouraging positive actions and behaviors.
ESD is a powerful strategy to transform education, covering what we learn, how we learn it, and the environment in which we learn. It is a lifelong learning process that is an integral part of a quality education.
www.unesco.org