Fostering dialogue for sustainable development.

The UNESCO has been designated lead agency of the United Nations system for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014). Although there are differences according to local contexts, priorities and approaches, there is a need for a holistic approach which encompasses the knowledge, skills and values needed for a sustainable future. In this context, education needs to develop respect for cultural diversity and the practice of dialogue. At its 34th session, the General Conference adopted resolution 19 on “Further promotion of the United Nations Decade for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)”, which acknowledged, among others, “the Decade as a unique opportunity for Member States and for UNESCO to strengthen sustainable development through educational efforts”. Moreover, document 179 EX/INF.4 Rev. contains “The Ahmedabad Declaration 2007: A Call to Action Education for Life: Life Through Education”; a declaration developed over several days in November 2007, involving over 1,500 participants from 97 countries at the fourth International Conference on Environmental Education. Other activities promoted by UNESCO in the context of this United Nations Decade include the recent international workshop entitled “The Contribution of Faith-based Organizations to Education for Sustainable Development” (March 2007) and operational projects on dialogue with indigenous communities in Africa about heritage education for sustainable development. The linkages between natural disasters, climate change, migration, urbanization, social transformation and cultural change are the focus of new attention and activities. 

Public and semi-public places, as well as special occasions such as cultural festivals or sports events also offer privileged venues for cultural interaction which are to be supported. Furthermore, new spaces of dialogue are also offered today by science. This includes modern science, on the one hand, as being demonstrated through action in the framework of the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS), the Israeli-Palestinian Science Organization or the SESAME project which involves scientists from the Arab region together with Israeli scientists. It also includes, on the other hand, traditional science as explored in the framework of the LINKS Project (Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems) which establishes intercultural dialogue on new ways to ensure that indigenous knowledge systems are recognized and respected in their contribution to sustainable development. 

 Additional perspectives in this context are presented in UNESCO’s programme on dialogue with and among indigenous peoples through the mapping of their intangible heritage and knowledge systems, and support to capacity-building aimed at empowering them to engage in negotiations and dialogue about the future development of their communities. 

Youth is a particular target group for dialogue with respect to sustainable development. Within the framework of DESD, UNESCO and UNEP collaborate to foster “youthXchange”, focusing on sustainable consumption for young people. During the 33rd session of the General Conference, the fourth UNESCO Youth Forum “Young People and the Dialogue among Civilizations, Cultures and Peoples – ideas for action in education, the sciences, culture and communication” stressed the need for the organization of regional, national and local fora in order to empower young people from all walks of life and in all regions of the world. The UNESCO Children’s Performing Arts Festival in East Asia and the UNESCO project on intercultural dialogue through storytelling among youth from different countries in the eastern part of the Caucasus are two other examples of this effort. Intercultural dialogue, exchange and understanding targeting youth is also being promoted through public-private partnerships, such as the flagship project Mondialogo launched by UNESCO and Daimler in 2003. This initiative comprises three distinct action-oriented pillars: (i) the Mondialogo School Contest, which is the largest international schools contest in the world aiming to promote intercultural dialogue and exchange among young people; (ii) the Mondialogo Engineering Award which encourages engineering students from all over the world to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially poverty reduction and sustainable development; and (iii) a dedicated interactive Internet Portal (www.mondialogo.org) to serve as a platform in support of the various project activities.