Why is Education for Sustainable Development important globally and locally? How to take ESD forward? Who is responsible for ESD in Finland?

The UN has declared the decade 2005-2014 as the decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Agenda 21, adopted in 1992, gives guidelines which clearly state that education sector must be in a key position in achieving the sustainable development goals. Especially the young people have been recognized to have significant role in taking sustainable development forward.

Seminar's keynote speaker, Mr. Charles Hopkins, UNESCO chair at the University of York, Toronto, will focus on the global aspects of sustainable development education and reflect the possible future developments after Rio+20 and beyond. The commentaries for his speech will be given by representative from Ministry of Education and Culture as well as from Earth Charter Finland.

The second part of the seminar consists of a panel discussion that will focus on Finland’s current situation as well as potential on Education for Sustainable Development. Who is responsible for EDS in Finland? In comparison to other countries, what is the situation in Finland at the moment? What is the relation of EDS to other educations?

Come and get inspired on Education for Sustainable Development!

Registration to sanna.pihlajaranta@kehys.fi by 25th of May.

Programme:

8.45 Coffee and registration

9.00 Opening remarks

9.15 "The importance of Education for Sustainable Development"
Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair at York University

9.45 Commentary by Zabrina Holmström, Counsellor for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture
Commentary by Jaana Hirsikangas, Earth Charter Finland

10.30 Panel discussion: "The role of Education for Sustainable Development in Finland"

Panellists:
Charles Hopkins, UNESCO chair at York University
Vanessa Andreotti, University of Oulu
Johanna Lampinen, Finnish League for Human Rights
Tarja Heikkonen, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

11.45 Closing remarks by Rilli Lappalainen, Secretary General of Kehys