16 / 192
[
] 16
Konrad Osterwalder, Rector, United Nations University
Caring about sustainable development means accepting responsibility for the well-being of future
generations and also of our habitat and our planet. Taking a positive approach to sustainability has to
be an integral part of the moral foundation of our actions and our lifestyle. This means that promoting
sustainable development must be an important aspect of the educational agenda at all levels. It starts
in kindergarten and it goes all the way to the university level and beyond. It basically involves three
aspects: the buildup and reinforcement of a basic understanding of the problem of sustainability, an
inspection of all aspects of our life under the criterion of sustainability and finally an active search for
new methods and techniques to further sustainable development.
The United Nations University (UNU), in particular through the research and teaching activities of
two UNU institutes, the UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) in Yokohama, and the UNU
Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) in Tokyo, is contributing to the implementation of the
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014. The UNU is proud of its ongoing
work and collaboration with UNESCO in the area of education for sustainable development, as it is an
important and very practical way for the UNU to help ensure a sustainable future for all.
Konrad Osterwalder
Rector, United Nations University