In a world of 7 billion people, with limited natural resources, the need for holistic, transformational education systems is urgent. It is now widely recognized that simply ensuring access to education is an insufficient objective; the content and purpose of education is an increasing concern.

With the growing international recognition of ESD as an integral element of quality education and a key enabler for sustainable development, the outcomes of the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development will inform the deliberations of the World Education Forum (19 - 22 May 2015, Incheon, Republic of Korea). The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration and the Global Action Programme are important contributions to the debate on a new education agenda for 2015-2030 and to the global Framework for Action to be adopted in Incheon in order to support and guide the implementation of the future agenda.