Education as a Foundation for Social Progress

A new United Nations report underscores the central role of education for sustainable development (ESD) in advancing social progress and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Prepared by UNESCO and presented to the General Assembly (A/80/236), the report highlights education as a transformative force that equips learners with the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours needed to tackle today’s global challenges — from climate change and biodiversity loss to inequality and conflict.

The report reveals both momentum and critical gaps in global sustainability education. A major study of more than 530 curricula from 85 countries found that 69 per cent contained no references to climate change and 66 per cent made no mention of sustainability, underscoring the urgent need for educational transformation.

The report highlights the Greening Education Partnership, which is a flagship initiative that was launched after the 2022 Transforming Education Summit that focuses on four key areas:

• Greening schools through green accreditation standards
• Greening curricula by integrating climate and environmental education
• Building capacity among educators and stakeholders
• Greening communities through lifelong learning initiatives

The Partnership has set ambitious targets: 50% of schools aligned with green standards and 90% of curricula including climate change content by 2030.

Under the Education for Sustainable Development for 2030 framework, 109 countries have expressed interest in developing country initiatives, with 30 having successfully launched programs. The global network has engaged over 18,000 stakeholders worldwide and established monitoring systems to track progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7.

The report emphasizes education’s critical role in addressing the climate crisis, noting that 9 out of 10 disasters are climate-linked and 40% of schools face risks from natural hazards. Recent international conferences have elevated education’s profile in climate action, with the first-ever inclusion of education in COP presidency agendas.

For biodiversity, UNESCO is developing a global action plan following decisions at the Convention on Biological Diversity, recognizing education as essential for ecosystem restoration and conservation.

Addressing interconnected global crises requires moving beyond knowledge transfer to developing “green citizens” equipped with the right skills and values to catalyze sustainable action. This transformation is positioned as essential for achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

For the full report, please read here.