UNESCO Chair Newsletter April 2025

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of the York University UNESCO Chair Newsletter!

Greetings from Toronto. April is Earth Month with the well-known Earth Day to be celebrated on 22 April! Following the Canada-wide SDG Month in March, we continue to promote sustainability through events, webinars and publications. At the core stands Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), equipping learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to shape just futures. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues or invite them to sign up for future editions.

Charles Hopkins & Katrin Kohl

UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, York University

The second edition of the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) will take place in Riyadh (KSA) under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on 13-14 April 2025. HCI 2025 #Beyond Readiness will bring together over 12,000 experts, officials, and decision makers, and feature more than 300 international speakers from government, private, and non-profit sectors, global think tanks, and international organizations, including York's UNESCO Co-Chairs Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl. The event will explore human capability development, policy innovation, and economic growth. Charles Hopkins is invited to set the scene for discussion on the first conference day.

During Earth Week on 23 April 2025 at 10 am EDT, join the UNESCO Chairs from George Washington University and York University, as well as the SDG Academy for the launch of the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development (JESD) Special Issue, Policy Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development. This issue examines ESD’s role in national policies, its impact on global development, and the policy-practice gap. Featuring scholars from nine countries and 21 institutions, it explores pathways forward. The launch webinar will highlight key insights, fostering dialogue on successes, challenges, and opportunities.

Throughout the month of April 2025, York University will highlight how their diverse community of changemakers works together in creating a better future by addressing complex challenges which matter most, such as sustainability — one of York University's core values. Join to celebrate Earth Month, Earth Week, and Earth Day (22 April).

Worldwide Climate Education Week is a global movement igniting conversations on climate and justice across campuses and communities worldwide. Join from 7-13 April 2025 and be part of the dialogue through virtual events. Climate justice needs all of us. It's not just for climate experts—everyone has a role to play. Whether you're an artist, historian, chemist, economist, or from any field, your voice matters in shaping climate solutions. Together, we are planting the seeds of change, one conversation at a time.

On 11 April 2025 at 10-11 am EDT, this event highlights how higher education institutions drive sustainability through research, education, and community engagement. Experts and practitioners will discuss the challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability across campuses and beyond. Join the conversation to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and strengthen the role of higher education in shaping a more sustainable future.

During Earth Month, The Ages of Globalization team will offer another interesting conversation on 11 April 2025 at 4 pm EDT.

As globalization continues to shape our world, education must evolve to prepare students for an interconnected future. The Ages of Globalization by Jeffrey Sachs has been adapted into an online course to bring historical and economic insights into classrooms worldwide. This panel brings together educators, students, course designers, and funders to discuss how the course is impacting learning, its strengths and challenges, and the future of global education. The panel will discuss the curricular content of The Ages of Globalization along with the interactive components with lesson plans for the teachers.

On 15 April 2025 at 9-10 am EDT, the panel will discuss the forthcoming special issue, curated by SDSN and York University: Policy Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development, hosted by the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. The aim is to garner reflections on how ESD has transitioned from policy to practice and where that will leave the world in 2030, with a focus on the powerful role of youth. Speakers explore youth empowerment and engagement in sustainable development, highlighting key lessons learned and policy insights. Through collaborative discussions, they will explore ways to strengthen youth-led action for a just and sustainable world.

The next Transformation Literacy Conference will take place in-person and online from 4–7 April 2025 with all online sessions on 7 April. The conference will examine how metrics can enhance transparency, accountability, and progress toward sustainability while exploring narratives that foster collaboration, depolarization, and shared responsibility. Many existing metrics still prioritize resource extraction over regeneration, while dominant narratives often reinforce past achievements rather than future possibilities. Speakers will highlight approaches to measuring sustainable development through responsive and effective indicators.

If you are interested in the virtual dialogues with ESD at the centre on youth and higher education on 11 April and 15 April 2025, you can find more SDG-aligned events hosted by the Climate School at Columbia University.

The Global Orientation Meeting, Transforming Futures: Enhancing ESD Practice through Action Research, took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 3-4 March 2025. The meeting explored how action research can improve Education for Sustainable Development and contribute to transformative change. Bringing together 30 researchers, academics, and ASPnet coordinators from 10 countries, the 12-month project, funded by the Japanese Funds-in-Trust, aims to test newly developed ESD guidance tools on learning assessments, pedagogies, sustainability competencies, and whole-institution approaches within education systems. Together with the International Association of Universities (IAU), the York UNESCO Co-Chairs drafted and co-led the discussion on the whole-institution approach towards sustainability.

Calling all higher education institutions! The International Green Gown Awards, supported by the International Association of Universities (IAU), recognize universities leading the way in sustainability. These prestigious awards celebrate innovative projects and impact initiatives that drive environmental and social change. Showcase your institution’s commitment to sustainability through your climate action, student engagement, or campus-wide initiatives and inspire others. Applications are accepted on or before 28 April 2025.

The UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD recognizes the role of education in connecting the social, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. UNESCO Member States (via their Permanent Delegation) and NGOs or foundations in official partnership with UNESCO may submit up to three nominations each. Self-nominations are not accepted. Deadline extended until 16 May 2025!

The Young Leaders for the SDGs Initiative recognizes 17 exceptional young people driving progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Selected young leaders gain a global platform to amplify their work, access UN networks, and engage in key events. The initiative offers Young Leaders a range of benefits designed to support and amplify their impact. It provides a global platform to showcase and elevate their existing work, along with access to the United Nations system and its network of partners.

Join the 6^th Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference on 27-28 May 2025, at UN City in Copenhagen. Co-convened by UNDESA and the UNFCCC Secretariat and hosted by Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference will unite experts, policymakers, businesses, youth, and civil society to advance integrated climate and SDG action. Discussions will also explore how education can drive climate solutions and commitments.

Building on the success of the first Eco-Campus International Conference, this second global event on 18-20 September 2025 will highlight the roles, activities, and future potential of higher education in bridging academic knowledge with practical solutions for sustainable development. Organizers welcome a diverse group of participants to engage in discussions on strategies and cross-sector collaborations that drive a whole-system approach to greening higher education.

The IAU 2025 International Conference will take place at the University of Rwanda in Kigali from 21-23 October 2025. The conference will address the theme Building Trust in Higher Education. You can find more details in the concept note. If you are interested to speak, a call for proposals is currently open.

Education in a turbulent world—one of the key themes shaping the 2025 Higher Education Summit. This joint event, hosted by the COPERNICUS Alliance, oikos, SOS International, and Students4Sustainability Bern, will take place online from 19-20 November 2025. Mark your calendars!

Under the theme Advancing Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable and Inclusive Development, a global conference will be held at Tarlac Agricultural University in Camiling (Tarlac, Philippines) from 25-28 November 2025. The conference will feature specialized breakout sessions that encourage academic exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge dissemination. A call for presentations is currently open for submissions.

Education is a right for people of all ages. Join this campaign and express your support for lifelong learning. You can also explore how learning opportunities at all ages drive sustainable development, equity, and inclusion. Engage with the global group of friends and shape the future of lifelong learning.