|
Sustainable development is an issue all countries in the world are currently looking at. The degree of emphasis and the level investing resources invested however varies from one country to another; but regardless of whether we are talking about industrialised or developing countries, the quest for environmentally sound, socially just, economically viable and ethically acceptable development needs to be regarded as a priority by all nations of the
 For many years now, a large number of initiatives have been carried out throughout the world to attempt to stoke up awareness about sustainable development and promote initiatives to achieve it.
The 1987 Report "Our Common Future" produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), "Agenda 21" produced by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the "Johannesburg Declaration" produced following the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 are examples of the type of initiatives being worked on internationally. These have been complemented by the various "National Sustainable Development Strategies" produced prior to UNCED and after Johannesburg.world.
|
|
Visit the Book Series on Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainable Development 
Edited by Walter Leal Filho
(Date: 02.12.2010 - File size: 200.48 KB - Hits: 1384)
|
|
|
Despite the various projects being run at international level, much still needs to be done at regional and local level: 23 years after the "Our Common Future" was published, 18 years after "Agenda 21" was produced, and 8 years after the world’s commitment towards sustainability was reiterated in the "Johannesburg Declaration", the need to make known information on the approaches, methods, projects and initiatives aimed at fostering the cause of sustainable development is as pressing as ever. Globally, the contribution provided by the educational sector is of great importance.
It is firmly believed that education is (and remains!) one of the most important tools in trying to make sustainable development a reality. Universities and institutions of high education have a key role to play, because these institutions are training the future generations of professionals, i.e. those who will, in time, influence the ways in which sustainable development is achieved. If we manage to sensitize and raise the awareness of the current generation of university students and mobilise them into pursuing the goals of sustainable development, we shall be providing a long-term contribution towards addressing one of the greatest issues faced by today’s society, namely the need to encourage people to take action.
It is for this reason that the "World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day" is being organised. This unique event will involve universities and higher education institutions across the world and entail students, our future professionals, learning about sustainable development, and giving them a better understanding of sustainability issues and the need for individual action.
The event will consist of lectures on different aspects of sustainable development prepared by some of the leading experts in the field. The lectures will be designed so that the issues can be grasped by university students at international level. The "World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day" will disseminate not only scientific information on sustainable development, but will also cover approaches, methods, strategies, and examples of projects and other types of action taking place all over the world.
The "World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day" will be held on Friday 3rd December 2010, and is being organised by the Research and Transfer Centre, “Applications of Life Sciences” of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany (HAW Hamburg), as part of the "International Climate Change Information Programme" (ICClP) led by HAW Hamburg, the details of which can be seen at http://www.iccip.net. The "World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day" will involve thousands of universities across the globe.
The "World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day" is recognised by UNESCO as a project that falls within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). It is being organised in partnership with a large number of organisations in different countries.
|
