Tongyeong Declaration on RCEs and ESD

24 September 2012

The global network of Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCEs),acknowledged by the United Nations University with the support of the Ubuntu Alliance, having met in Tongyeong, Republic of Korea, and reaffirming all previous declarations related to education for sustainable development (ESD), hereby declare their commitment to implementing strategic actions that build a global learning space on ESD.

As the world looks to 2014 and beyond, RCEs recognize their distinctive ability to respond to our global systems in crisis and their moral responsibility to act on these well beyond the end of the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development.

RCEs are a tool for transformation to a more sustainable society, combining education and action for sustainable development. RCEs reaffirm their strong commitment to improving their systems of governance and quality of their actions. They are committed to expanding their collaboration with as wide a number of stakeholders as possible, and further expanding the global network in five years, thereby increasing their global impact.

RCEs are dedicated to building their capacities to plan and implement collaborative ESD projects critical for establishing a global learning space. Capacity development will be viewed as a transformative learning process, generated from within the RCE network.

RCEs will put sustainable development issues into a scientific and social context, provide a constructive critique and help to develop new policies, programmes and projects. At the same time, RCEs will continue to dedicate themselves to advancing sustainable market opportunities and other sustainable livelihood strategies for all individuals—especiallyfor the most marginalized—to improve human well-being and ecosystem health.

RCEs recognize their unique position, as grassroots, multi-stakeholder networks, with distinctive capacities for research and innovation that can revitalize education at all levels through flagship projects. As regionally based yet globally connected networks, RCEs form a global learning spaceon ESD, working to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to learn the values, behaviors and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive social transformation.

In addition to adopting the RCE Declaration on ESD, the RCE community also laid out draft text for Positioning RCEs. The draft text can be downloaded by clicking here.