Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is recognized as a key element of quality education and a crucial enabler for sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the global community recognize the important of education in achieving their targets by 2030. Target 4.7 of SDG 4 on education specifically addresses ESD and related approaches.

The Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD, the follow- up programme to the Decade of ESD (2005-2014), seeks to generate and scale-up ESD and to accelerate progress towards sustainable development. The GAP aims to contribute substantially to the 2030 agenda, through two objectives:

• Reorienting education and learning so that everyone has the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that empower them to contribute to a sustainable future.
• Strengthening education and learning in all agendas, programmes and activities that promote sustainable development.

This website outlines the main objectives of the GAP and its implementation strategies including information on priority action areas, GAP partner networks and the GAP Roadmap, as well as news and resources from UNESCO and its GAP key partners.