RCE Bulletin
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Greetings from the Global RCE Service Centre! We start by thanking RCEs who submitted applications to host RCE events in 2023 - stay tuned for announcements and 'save the dates' next month. We are looking forward to opportunities to meet, connect, and collaborate once again with you all! Information will be shared in both the bulletin and updated on the RCE Portal - please check these for the latest news on events, and whilst you visit the website, take a look at the new RCE Regional Advisors page to learn more about the RCE Regional Advisor in your region.
If you would like to share any news, upcoming events, open calls, or publications for an upcoming bulletin, please complete this form and email your submission to the Global RCE Service Centre at rceservicecentre@unu.edu (submissions close on the 15th of each month).
Sincerely,
The Global RCE Service Centre
Upcoming Events
29 March 2023, 13:00-14:15 (JST), online
While most of the Asia-Pacific region is not on track to achieve the Paris Agreement and SDGs, maximizing synergies between climate actions and the SDGs could help accelerate progress. The potential for synergies is particularly great in cities. In fact, the Third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, in Tokyo, in July 2022, underlined the wide variety of city-level actions that can deliver on the climate and sustainability agendas, including actions supporting nature-positive solutions and SDGs involving ecosystem services.
Organised by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ), and co-organised by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and Embassy of Japan in Thailand, this APFSD Side Event will highlight various synergistic actions in cities in the Asia-Pacific. It will also showcase how such action can contribute to sustainable net-zero transitions while ensuring a harmonious relationship with nature. Finally, the event will underline that city-to-city collaboration can assist knowledge exchanges that support synergies among SDGs 7, 11, 13, 15 and 17. Read more
30 March 2023, 13:00-15:00 (CET), online
To promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and mutual learning ESD-Net 2030 is organising a series of learning webinars in March, May and September 2023 on ESD pedagogy to highlight and promote innovative practices in ESD. This interactive learning series will focus on sharing and strengthening pedagogical approaches and key competencies in ESD through a broad range of topics and issues.
The first webinar will take place on 30 March 2023, 13:00-15:00 CET. This 2-hour event will feature four organisations working to bring ESD practices to life in various settings across the world. Further details and registration information is available here.
Open Calls
UNESCO has launched a call for nominations for the 2023 UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development. The deadline is 21 April 2023.
Generously funded by the Government of Japan, since 2015 the Prize rewards exceptional projects and programmes in the field of ESD.
In 2023, three winners will be rewarded with USD 50,000 each and will be invited to establish a long-term collaboration with UNESCO by joining the ESD for 2030 Global Network (ESD-Net).
Nominations can be made by Governments of UNESCO Member States via their Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in consultation with their National Commission for UNESCO as well as by non-governmental organisations in official partnership with UNESCO. Read more
RCE Dobong-gu invites youth to join 'Global ESD Youth Project Neuru Season 3', a project to improve ecological literacy and glocal leadership. The name 'Neuru' is a Korean word meaning 'for a long time, not all at once', which could be translated to aiming for a sustainable life for youth for a long time. Since 2021, the project has been conducted under the topics of 'The Truth of Hamburgers' (2021) and 'Sustainable Fashion' (2022). This year, it will be held under the main topic 'A House that Saves the Earth'. RCE Dobong-gu hopes many RCEs will participate in Project Neuru Season 3, which is conducted with a Zoom-based photo-voice research method. For more information, refer to the flyer and operation guidelines.
Application period: 6 March - 31 March, 2023
Eligibility: Youth aged 10 years and over
Application method:
- Personal application: Access the QR code from the flyer and complete the application form
- Group application: Complete the application form and email it to bhs0110@dobong.go.kr
Latest News
On 1-3 March 2023, UNU-IAS conducted a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand on the theme Net-Zero Thailand: Transition Strategies for Carbon Neutrality. The sessions engaged officials of the Royal Thai Government in problem-solving exercises and group activities to enhance knowledge and skills needed to achieve a carbon neutral society. The workshop was held in partnership with the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Royal Thai Government, with support from the Korea Environment Corporation (K-Eco).
During the workshop, international and local experts in net-zero implementation conducted a series of lectures on successful decarbonisation approaches and evidence-based practices from across the world. The modules incorporated best practices from Costa Rica, Japan, and Korea, in the context of the mitigation and adaptation priorities of Thailand. Topics included net-zero governance, measurement, reporting and verification systems; energy efficiency and renewable energy; sustainable urban design; nature-based solutions; transport; waste management; and eco-tourism. Read more
(Photo credit: UNU-IAS)
On 4 March 2023, UNU-IAS organised a session at the 14th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development (ICERD) under the theme Circular Economy Education for Sustainable Development in Local Communities. The event discussed the role of education, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and community engagement in addressing environmental problems at the local level, focusing on the promotion and practice of the circular economy model, and included presentations by RCEs discussing projects promoting circular economy in their respective localities. Read more
(Photo credit: UNU-IAS)
The RCE Greater Kuala Lumpur Youth Camp was held from 18-19 February, 2023, organised by the RCE Greater Kuala Lumpur 2023 Youth Committee. Its objective was to build leadership in ESD implementation for youths, especially in matters related to Peace and Unity in Diversity education. Through active group learning, 20 participants planned together the youths' roadmap for 2023. The outcomes of the camp were two-fold: to build competence, and to identify youths' interest areas in community development. The camp was hosted at UCSI University, Cheras and sponsored by Persatuan Promosi Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari, Malaysia. A report of the event can be viewed here.
In 2012 in Rio at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the idea of the Sulitest emerged - a sustainability literacy test covering the knowledge, skills and mindsets that allow individuals to become deeply committed to building a sustainable future, and that help them to make informed and effective decisions to this end.
RCE Greater Nairobi, hosted by Kenyatta University has been able to conduct the Sulitest among students and staff in a move that is aimed at creating awareness on sustainable development. As of 28 February, 2023 over 40 students have completed the international core module awareness test. The movement is gaining momentum and there is need to create more awareness in other institutions of higher learning. Read more
ESD BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER
As ESD continues to gain momentum from the 2022 UN Transforming Education Summit to COP27, it is important to share with interested individuals and institutions how we can all teach, promote, and support ESD. UNESCO has launched an ESD promotional video explaining the role of ESD and the need to transform education in order to empower learners with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will help us respond to global challenges. View it in Arabic, English, French, Japanese, or Spanish online.
RCE Dobong-gu has published an annual report for 2022, in which they share their ESD activities and major achievements, including those both conducted domestically and overseas.
Take a look at their annual report here.
This is a publication of the UNU-IAS Global RCE Service Centre.
If you wish to contribute to the monthly bulletin or have news, upcoming events, or publications you would like to share, please use this form. You can email it to the Global RCE Service Centre: rceservicecentre@unu.edu. Submissions must be made by the 15th of every month. In addition, we encourage you to continue using the RCE Portal to exchange ideas, share expertise and resources and deliberate emerging sustainability issues towards ESD implementation at a global level.
Please send your comments, suggestions and materials to rceservicecentre@unu.edu.
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