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Education Supporting Sustainable Development will have a Trans-European Strategy

Tomorrow, on 17 March the two-day summit of European Ministers of the Environment and Ministers of Education and Research will begin in Vilnius where a strategy of education supporting sustainable development in Europe will be adopted. 110 ministers from the 55 member states of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will participate in the meeting.

„The fact that last week Mr Villu Reiljan and Mr Toivo Maimets signed the memorandum of education supporting sustainable development which includes the development of nature and environmental education and cooperation between the two Ministries shows that Estonia is ready to implement the strategy to be adopted in Vilnius,“ said Mr Olavi Tammemäe, Assistant Minister representing the Ministry of the Environment at the summit.

The general objective of the strategy is to encourage UNECE member states to promote education supporting sustainable development (including nature and environmental education) and incorporate it into educational systems, all relevant subjects and informal education. Education supporting sustainable development, including nature and environmental education, develops the relevant knowledge and skills in people, making them more competent and confident and widening their possibilities to act for a healthier and more productive life in harmony with nature.

In order to achieve the general objective, it is desired to:

* ensure a political, regulative and operational framework promoting education that supports sustainable development, including nature and environmental education;

* promote sustainable development in formal and informal education;

* improve the skills of teachers to integrate the topic of sustainable development into the learning process;

* ensure the availability of relevant study aids and materials;

* encourage research and development activities concerning sustainable development;

* enhance the relevant cooperation at all levels in the UNECE area.

The strategy will be adopted by interested UNECE member states, but states that are not members of UNECE are also welcome to follow the strategy.

Education supporting sustainable development will urge and encourage individuals, groups, communities, organisations and countries to make decisions and choices for the benefit of sustainable development. This could bring about changes in people’s way of thinking and as a result they would be able to make the world safer, healthier and more successful.

Education as one of the basic human rights is a precondition for attaining sustainable development and it is an essential means to achieve good management, making informed decisions and promoting democracy.

Further information:
Anari Lilleoja
Head of the Environmental Education Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
Phone (+372) 626 2834; (+372) 524 6477

Monika Kopti
Press Representative of the Ministry of the Environment
Phone (+372) 626 2993; (+372) 521 2602
E-mail: