ESD to 2030: Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development

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"Crucially, this (national) strategy aims to ensure that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is embedded into our policy and operational frameworks, and also seeks to transform our learning environments. Sustainability and inclusion need to be at the heart of education, with these principles not only embedded in our teaching and learning and research, but also in the way we manage and govern our educational environments and our partnerships with local communities. We know that our students are passionate about creating sustainable learning
environments and we need to support them in ‘living what they learn’, and in taking action throughout their lives.

It is vital that we equip our educators with the competencies to embed ESD principles and practices at all levels in our education system, and that tools and materials for ESD are accessible so that people and communities are empowered to make a real difference in their lives.

This strategy aims to enhance ESD leadership in educational institutions and in the community more generally, and it supports the active engagement of, and participation by children and young people, our global citizens of the future, in decision making processes. ESD can enable critical reflection, foster greater awareness, and empower citizens so that new visions and concepts can be explored, and new methods and tools developed. It can assist in preparing society to creatively tackle and envision future scenarios in a sustainable way."

You want to learn more?

This is the new national Irish strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, and it is not only interesting, but also very encouraging.

This is a perfect example of a national and transversal strategy to embed sustainability in education, taking full account of the european policy context (see page 14 of the document, with mention to GreenComp and the European education area).

I invite you to pay particular attention to the "The Priority Action Areas of ESD to 2030" at the end of the document, and would be happy to read your comments.

Access the full document here