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Documentation

2011-10-13

Definitions:

IAU takes as a reference the "Brundtland definition" (World Commission on Environment and Development) as given in the Brutland Report : Our Common future.

In this definition the term "Sustainable Development" in itself links the two concepts of "environment" and "development" and it refers to "development seeking to meet the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It aims at assuring the on-going productivity of exploitable natural resources and conserving all species of fauna and flora."

Sustainable human development: This concept has been further developed within the UN system, which tends to use the term: sustainable human development. The introduction of the "human" dimension places human development at the forefront of regional integration and sustainable development of a country or continent. "In recognition of the centrality of the human dimension to development, the UN general Assembly in 1986 adopted a "Declaration on the right to development" stating that the human person is the central subject of development", and called upon member states "to ensure access to the basic resources, education, health services, food, housing, employment and the fair distribution of income." (Ref: Sustainable Human Development. United Nations Economic Commission for, Africa 1995)


Below please find links to:

Thank you for providing IAU with information on projects and other initiatives in the field of higher education and Sustainable Development that could be included to these lists (h.vantland@iau-aiu.net).


Main Declarations and Charters

  • Tokyo declaration of HOPE, 2009 (external link)
    A commitment to action by ESD Educators and Facilitators (This declaration was adopted at the issue of the ACCU (Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO) organized Asia-Pacific Forum for ESD Educators and Facilitators in Tokyo, in August 2009)

  • Charter for an Alliance of French Universities in Fostering Sustainable Development, 2008 (external link, in French)
    On 3 July 2008, the French Conférence des Présidents d'Universités (CPU) has adopted a charter for the alliance of French universities in fostering sustainable development.

  • Lucerne Declaration on Geographical Education for Sustainable Development, 2007 (external link, French)
    The International Geographical Union (IGU) and Commission on Geographical Education (CGE) see the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 as an opportunity to confirm its commitment to education for sustainable development. They adopted a "Declaration on Geographical Education for Sustainable Development" (Lucerne, 2007-07-31). The declaration extends the foundational International Charter on Geographical Education (1992).

  • The Graz declaration, 2005 (external link)
    The Graz Declaration was drafted at the conference held from 20-23 April 2005 in Graz (Austria). It addresses in particular the forthcoming Ministerial conference in Bergen to the Bologna-Process and asks Ministers to take appropriate action to incorporate the principle of sustainable development in the establishment of the European Higher Education Area.

  • Declaration of Barcelona, 2004 (external link)
    The declaration of Barcelona is the result of the work of the Engineering Education in Sustainable Development (EESD) 2004 conference scientific committee. The declaration gathers the orientations to be taken to integrate sustainable development in engineering education.

  • Cape Town Declaration on Research for Sustainable Development, 2002 (external link)
    In Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, on 28 July 2002, the Cape Town Declaration was adopted by the Ministers responsible for Research, Science and Technology in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States present at this time at the Cape Town Forum.

  • Ubuntu Declaration on Education and Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, September 2002
    Declaration issued by 11 of the World's foremost global educational organizations and scientific academies (one being IAU) at Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, stating that there is a need to integrate a sustainable development focus into the curriculum at every level of education, starting in primary school. Background (rtf, 40 kb) - Declaration (rtf, 40 kb)

  • Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the General Agreement on Trade in Services, 2001 (external link)
    The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is a multilateral, legally enforceable agreement covering international trade in services. Education services, including higher education, are one of the 12 broad sectors included in the agreement. The declaration with respect to the GATS in education services was signed by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), American Council on Education (ACE), European University Association (EUA), Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and 60 recognized institutional and programmatic accreditors in the United States.

  • Luneburg Declaration (rtf, 68 kb), on Higher Education for Sustainable Development, October 2001
    The Luneburg Declaration was adopted by the GHESP partners (IAU, ULSF, Copernicus Campus and Unesco), on 10 October 2001 in Luneburg, Germany, on the occasion of the International COPERNICUS Conference, "Higher Education for Sustainability Towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10)" held at the University of Luneburg 8 10 October 2001.

  • Earth Charter, 2000 (external link)
    Shared values, principles and aspirations on sustainable development compiled by The Earth Charter Initiative.

  • World Declaration on Higher Education For the Twenty-First Century: Vision and Change and Framework for Priority Action for Change and Development in Higher Education, 1998 (external links)
    Declaration in which sustainable development in higher education plays an important role. It was adopted by the World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE) on 9 October 1998.

  • Thessaloniki Declaration (rtf, 44 kb), December 1997
    Declaration presented and unanimously adopted by the 83 countries present at the International Conference on Environment and Society Education and Public Awareness for Sustainaility, organised in Thessaloniki by UNESCO and the Government of Greece, from 8-12 December 1997.

  • Declaration of Barbados, 1994 (external link)
    Declaration adopted by the States participating in the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados 25 April - 6 May 1994.

  • CRE-Copernicus Charter, 1994
    Charter written by the _CO-operation Programme in Europe for Research on Nature and Industry through Coordinated University Studies _whose aim is to bring together universities and other concerned sectors of society from all parts of Europe to promote a better understanding of the interaction between man and the environment and to collaborate on common environmental issues. Background (rtf, 40 kb) Charter (external link)

  • IAU Kyoto Declaration, 1993
    IAU Declaration adopted by 90 universities leaders that embodies the language and substance of both the Halifax Declaration and the Swansea Declaration. Declaration

  • Swansea Declaration (rtf, 36 kb), 1993
    Declaration released at the conclusion of the Association of Commonwealth Universities' fifteenth Quinquennial Conference, Swansea, Wales, August 1993

  • Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992 (external link)
    United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janerio, Brazil, June 1992. Chapter 36 (rtf, 68 kb): Promoting Education, Public Awareness and training of AGENDA 21, (source: the Report of the United Nations Conference on Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992)

  • Halifax Declaration (rtf, 94 kb), 1991
    Follow-up to the Halifax Conference on University Action for Sustainable Development, Halifax, December 9-11, 1991

  • Talloires Declaration, 1990 (external link)
    Declaration adopted at the Tuft University European Center, Talloires, France, October 1990

  • Stockholm Declaration, 1972 (external link)
    Declaration adopted at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, June 1972


Leadership and other Resources

  • United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014
    UN Resolution on Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Environment for Development Environmental Leadership Programmes with focus on integrating human, environmental, and sustainable development dimensions.

  • 1998 WCHE - UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education - Paris, 5-9 October 1998
    Preparing for a sustainable future: Higher education and sustainable human development (rtf, 40 kb): Summary of the thematic debate 2 (October 6, 1998)
    World Declaration on higher education for the twenty-first century: Vision and action (external link)

  • 2002 WSSD - World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa)
    Education for Sustainability. From Rio to Johannesburg: Lessons learnt from a decade of commitment (pdf) (external link): report on lessons learnt about the contribution of education to sustainable development since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 and up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). This report was prepared by UNESCO in its role as Task Manager for Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 and the International Work Programme on Education, Public Awareness and Sustainability of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
    WSSD Official site (external link) and main documents (no longer updated)
    Follow-up of the Summit (external link) by the UN Division of Sustainable Development by the UN Division of Sustainable Development

  • 2009 WCSD - World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development - Bonn 31 March - 3 April 2009
    http://www.esd-world-conference-2009.org/en/home.html

  • Higher Education Funding Council for England
    Website offering a comprehensive list of links to organisations, resources and sites developed by universities and colleges, to aid and inspire higher education institutions in developing an overarching strategy for their sustainable development activity.
    http://www.hefce.ac.uk/susdevresources/strat/

  • UNU/IAS"Mobilising for Education for Sustainable Development: Towards a global learning space base on regional centres of expertise"
    Compiling concept papers, case studies, conference papers and speeches to convey the challenges of education for sustainable development (ESD) and ambitions of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, this report highlights the roles of institutions and higher education in implementing ESD and presents case studies on the concept of Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD (RCE).
    It is available for free at the UNU-IAS website: http://www.ias.unu.edu/binaries2/RCEreport.pdf

  • HEFCE Progress Report: Sustainable development in higher education: Consultation on 2008 update to strategic statement and action plan, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
    This progress report and consultation on sustainable development in higher education focuses on:
    • Making sustainable development a central part of the UK funding strategy for future development.
    • Tackling the perception that society is not moving forward fast enough especially where climate change is concerned.
    • Encouraging universities to contribute to sustainable development through teaching and research, as campus managers, as employers and as protagonists in their local communities.
    • Supporting the momentum for change.
    http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2008/08_18/08_18.doc

  • European Portal on Sustainable Development
    The EU's Sustainable Development Strategy aims, in tandem with the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs, for a more prosperous, cleaner and fairer Europe. Sustainable Development is an overarching concept. The EU Treaty requires the integration of sustainable development into all European policies, so that they contribute in an integrated way to meeting economic, environmental and social objectives.
    This site offers information on the History of the idea of Sustainable Development in Europe, a selection of key publications and other relevant information sources. The Commission's activities for sustainable development and related subjects are presented along with the activities of the other European Institutions, the Member States, partners in science and education, and more.
    http://ec.europa.eu/sustainable/welcome/index_en.htm

  • Sustainable Futures Academy This international program prepares higher education leaders to integrate sustainability into the core of their organizations (teaching, research, campus operations, and community outreach.)

  • WBGU Report: World in Transition- A Social Contract for Sustainability, German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). This report shows that the transition to sustainability is achievable and presents ten concrete measurements to accelerate restructuring in order to achieve sustainability.

  • PERL Progress Report: Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living (PERL) This group of over 120 associations has helped bring sustainable development and responsible consumption to the forefront.

  • International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) - IISD Sustainable Development Policy & Practice Links and Articles relating to Sustainable Development by Region

  • Increasing the Handprint - A set of 12 Handprint Resource books
    To find out more visit: http://www.handsforchange.org.

  • International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice
    To find out more visit: [http://mdp.ei.columbia.edu][40034]

  • Resources of Interest for the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability
    Sponsored by the US Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development, the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability is an informal network of professional associations. http://www2.aashe.org/dans/resources.php


Education

For a list of:

  • programs,
  • projects,
  • degrees,
  • online resources and
  • student initiatives

please click here


Research / Programmes and projects



International Conferences

Conferences

2011

International Conference on Higher Education for Sustainable Development 14-16 September 2011, Lüneburg, Germany

GUPES Meeting 5-6 September 2011, Santiago, Chile. The First Preparatory, Consultative, Sharing and Learning Meeting for University Leaders and Managers: Increasing awareness for integrating environment and sustainability into university systems and programmes in preparation for Rio+20 Contact: env.edu@unep.org

La Formación de Líderes Universitarios Ambientales 18 October 2011, Quito, Ecuador. Social Responsibility of Universities Workshop: Sustainable Development

International Greening Education Event 19-21 October 2011, Karlsruhe, Germany. Education for Sustainability

2012

PERL Conference: Beyond Consumption - Pathways to Responsible LivingPartnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living (PERL) 19-20 March 2012, Berlin, Germany

World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSDU-2012) 5-6 June 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

For Other Upcoming Events


Organisations active in the field of SD

For a list of Organisations please click here