15 December 2015: The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee (Economic and Financial) approved a resolution that reaffirms Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as “a vital means of implementation for sustainable development,” and welcomes “increasing international recognition of ESD in quality education and lifelong learning.”

Resolution A/C.2/70/L.56, titled ‘UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)’ and approved on 10 December 2015, reaffirms commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, promote lifelong learning for all, and ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development, including ESD and sustainable lifestyles.

The text also recognizes the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the lead agency in implementing the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD and the follow-up of the Decade. It invites UNESCO to continue to assess progress towards ESD.

By the resolution, Member States encourage governments to increase their efforts to integrate ESD in the education sector, relevant policies and monitoring and evaluation efforts, with the aim of scaling up good practices. Member States also call upon the UN system to increase efforts to mainstream a gender perspective into the GAP’s implementation.

The text also requests the UN Secretary-General to ensure that UN country teams continue to integrate and mainstream education into their programming exercises when assisting countries in the pursuit of their development objectives.

The UN Secretary-General is asked to report on the implementation of the resolution to UNGA 72, in 2017. [UNESCO Press Release] [A/C.2/70/L.56] [GAP Website] [Status of Draft Resolutions in Second Committee]