The state government has decided to update the strategy “Education for Sustainable Development – ESD in NRW 2030”, thereby setting new priorities in its implementation. The state has been committed to education for sustainable development (ESD) for almost 20 years: In 2005, the “Learning for the Future Action Plan” laid the foundation for an ESD strategy, which was adopted in 2016 and was unique nationwide at the time. The current update records both the successes in achieving the goals and further goals and measures for the coming years. The revised ESD strategy contains 17 individual goals and 25 measures.
“I am very pleased that a joint effort by all those involved has succeeded in developing this roadmap for the implementation of education for sustainable development in all areas of education. For the urgent transformation of the economy and society towards climate neutrality and sustainability, high-quality education for all people of all ages is an important prerequisite,” said Environment Minister Oliver Krischer.
The educational concept of ESD includes lifelong learning from kindergarten to everyday working life and beyond. In addition to imparting basic knowledge about ecological, social and economic relationships, it is also primarily about acquiring action skills for a more sustainable life, economy and work.
The international reference framework is provided by a United Nations program that aims to implement the 17 global sustainability goals – the so-called SDGs – through educational measures.
Minister Krischer made it clear: “The overarching strategic goal of strengthening ESD in all areas of education and implementing it ever better remains valid. The update shows that we have achieved a lot since 2016. We are now building on this and have agreed on further measures in the individual areas.”
For example, ESD is increasingly being incorporated into the concepts of day care centers and in schools in the revision and updating of curricula. A survey is being carried out at the universities in North Rhine-Westphalia on the understanding of ESD and its implementation in educational practice. In vocational training, investments in training and further education centers as well as concepts for the implementation of ESD in the Rhineland and northern Ruhr area are being promoted.
In the extracurricular sector, the number of ESD regional centres supported by the state and the number of ESD-certified institutions is to be continuously increased.
During the development of the update of the ESD strategy, following an initial cabinet decision, an online consultation process was carried out in which experts, teachers and associations were able to submit statements and contribute suggestions to the text.
“I would like to expressly thank everyone who took part in the consultation process. Because in order to implement ESD in educational practice, we depend on the active participation of actors in all areas of education,” said the minister.
ESD thrives on the participation of teachers and learners. Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment, together with the North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation for the Environment and Development, organizes the ESD Festival NRW, a major annual specialist and networking event. This year it will take place on September 26 and 27, 2024 in Münster. As in previous years, the festival will again be supported and organized by committed individuals and educational institutions, who will offer numerous workshops and a creative market.
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