Education for Sustainable Development
Watch above the video "BNE – Bildung fir nohalteg Entwécklung: Verstoen, Verantwortung iwwerhuelen, Zukunft gestalten". If you want to find out more on this topic, click here.
Education for Sustainable Development or ESD (called "Bildung fir nohalteg Entwécklung" in Luxembourgish, and "Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung" in German), is a broad and complex concept.
Nonetheless, the concept has gained traction in the education and political discourse in recent years.
What exactly is ESD? What are its objectives? What is ESD based on? How does ESD change the learning and teaching landscape?
Additional videos
SCRIPT has produced a series of videos on Education for Sustainable Development to inform teachers and educators on goals, contents and teaching methods.
Watch above the second video of the series: "Politesch Bildung: Demokratie léieren, matbestëmmen, Zesummeliewe gestalten". If you want to find out more on this topic, click here.
COMING SOON:
What is Education for Sustainable Development?
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is not limited to the transmission of knowledge: it is a transformation lever to build a fairer, more equitable and sustainable world. It aims to raise awareness, develop skills and encourage action.
Goal 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030 embodies the ambition to ensure that all students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to further sustainable development by 2030, especially through:
- sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles
- human rights
- gender equality
- promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence
- global citizenship
- appreciation of cultural diversity and the contribution of culture to sustainable development.
360° Education for everyone
ESD applies to all forms of education:
- Formal education : in primary and secondary schools
- Non-formal education : in childcare centres, youth centres, associations, training courses, workshops
- Informal education in everyday life, through raising awareness and supporting commitment from all actors in society
The aims of ESD
ESD aims to:
- understand the complexity of the world in its ecological, social and economic dimensions
- acquire knowledge, skills and values to act responsibly
- promote democratic commitment
ESD stands for life-long learning.
It is based on three pillars:
- Discern & Understand: develop a systematic, interdisciplinary and conscious approach to think about interdependencies
- Reflect: structure information, value-based critical thinking, represent a position and communicate it
- Act: stimulate creativity, cooperation, self-confidence and the ability to transform ideas into concrete action
An Interdisciplinary and Complementary Approach
ESD draws on a variety of disciplines and themes to help learners understand and respond to major global challenges. It can be integrated into all areas of school and everyday life.
Complementary approaches include:
- global citizenship education
- environmental and climate education
- nature and peace education
- human rights and democracy education
- intercultural and equality education
- circular economy education
Learning Objectives of Education for Sustainable Development
ESD is not limited to imparting knowledge: it aims to strengthen the ability to act in a complex, uncertain and constantly changing world.
It mobilises :
- des interdisciplinary approaches
- des changes in perspective
- critical reflection on values
- the development ofempathy and solidarity
- cooperation and conflict resolution skills
The aim is to educate citizens to understand global issues, to reflect systematically and to act responsibly.
GreenComp - The European Sustainability Competence Framework
GreenComp, published by European Commission, is a reference framework for key sustainability competences. It is part of the European Green Deal and aims to promote learning about environmental sustainability in all educational contexts: formal, non-formal and informal.
This framework proposes a common vision for integrating sustainability issues into education, by developing cross-disciplinary skills useful to all citizens, no matter their age or background.
The four competency pillars of GreenComp are:
- Embodying sustainability values
→ Respect, responsibility, justice, solidarity. - Understanding the complexity of sustainability
→ Develop systemic thinking, recognise interactions and uncertainties. - Imagining sustainable futures
→ Explore alternatives, nurture hope and the courage to act. - Acting for sustainability
→ Take concrete action, individually and collectively.
Click here to access the GreenComp document in your preferred language.
Find out more: A brief history of ESD