Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) empowers learners to make informed decisions and take responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations. It is holistic and transformational education for all people to learn the values, behavior and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation.

Since the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), the Goi Peace Foundation has been promoting ESD through its various activities, including the Earth Kids Space Program, which was recognized by UNESCO as an official activity of the UN Decade.

As part of the UNESCO World Conference on ESD, which took place in Japan in 2014, the Foundation co-organized the UNESCO ESD Youth Conference held in Okayama.

The Goi Peace Foundation was one of the 90 Key Partners of the UNESCO Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD (2015-2019), particularly in the area of youth empowerment and mobilization.

Nationally, we collaborated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan to organize an annual ESD Japan Youth Conference with the aim of establishing an evolving community of young changemakers. Globally, we collaborated with UNESCO, building on the Okayama Youth Conference, to enroll and empower ESD youth leaders worldwide.

Under the new global framework ‘ESD for 2030’ for the period of 2020-2030, the Foundation continues to focus on promoting ESD toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the global community.

UNESCO ESD Youth Conference in Okayama

Workshop session at the UNESCO ESD Youth Conference

ESD Japan Youth Conference

Meeting of the Partner Networks of the Global Action Program on ESD

Our ESD programs for young people