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Politics and civil society in the UN Decade
of Education for Sustainable Development
Walter Hirche, President of the German Commission for UNESCO
I
mplementing education for sustainable development (ESD)
in all areas of education and learning is a massive reform
agenda that requires the participation of all stakeholders in
politics and civil society. UNESCO National Commissions can
serve as effective facilitators for such a process. The German
implementation of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development (DESD) can serve as an example in this regard.
Education for sustainable development as a multi-stakeholder
project
ESD means acquiring the values, competencies, skills and knowl-
edge necessary to shape the future in a humane and responsible
way. A major education reform project would be required to achieve
this, as well as a learning process for all society. Such a project will
only become effective when all stakeholders take on responsibility
for its implementation. The involvement of all major groups for the
achievement of sustainable development is a central principle that
was agreed upon at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992
and laid down in Agenda 21. In particular, sustainable
development requires a combination of top-down and
bottom-up approaches. Clear and binding political
frameworks are required. At the same time, resource
efficiency, fair global development and social justice
will only be achieved when every member of society
becomes involved and starts moving toward sustain-
able development on their own account. What is more,
clear and binding political frameworks will only come
into being when citizens demand them. What is true for
sustainable development is equally true for ESD and the
implementation of the DESD.
The role of civil society and partnerships
The UN General Assembly declared the DESD in 2002
and, the UN member states have committed themselves
to actively implementing the DESD in the years 2005 to
2014. Indeed, the responsibility of governments is a key
A major education reform project will only become effective when all stakeholders take on responsibility for its implementation
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