UNESCO Chair Newsletter February 2026

Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the York UNESCO Chair Newsletter!

As we look towards a new year, we do so with a strong sense of momentum and purpose. One of the absolute highlights on the very last day of 2025 was the appointment of our Chairholder Charles Hopkins as a Member of the Order of Canada, a meaningful recognition not only of his lifelong commitment, but also of the growing importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within Canada and globally.

While the year ahead will - no doubt - continue to bring change and challenge, we are encouraged by the many positive developments we are seeing across policy, research, and practice. From renewed global attention to ESD in 2026, to deeper collaboration across higher education and the UN system, there is energy for true transformation. We enter 2026 grateful for the community we work with and hopeful about what lies ahead.

This first newsletter of the year will offer a line-up of ESD-related webinars, publications and conferences in February and beyond. Please feel free to share this newsletter or encourage colleagues to sign up for future editions.

Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl
UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, York University

York's UNESCO Chairholder Charles Hopkins has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s most distinguished civilian honours. This appointment recognizes a lifetime of leadership, national and international impact, and service that has advanced the public good. Charles has played a formative role in shaping how sustainability is understood, embedded, and advanced in and through education, training and public awareness. Over several decades, his work has influenced international policy frameworks, supported institutional transformation in education, and strengthened learning communities committed to social, environmental, and intergenerational responsibility. His leadership has helped position ESD not as an add-on, but as a core principle of quality education in Canada and globally.

Charles’ appointment reflects both his personal commitment and the growing recognition of ESD as a vital foundation for navigating complex global challenges.

For all of you that are interested in advancing ESD as a policy concept within the international dialogue, it is important to know that the United Nations General Assembly has once more reaffirmed ESD "...as a vital means of implementation for sustainable development (...) and as an integral element of the Sustainable Development Goal on quality education and a key enabler of all the other Goals, and welcomes the increased international recognition of education for sustainable development in quality education and lifelong learning" on 15 December 2025.

Our colleagues from the UNESCO Chair at Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina) have a new offer in place: A 100 % online graduate Specialization in Education for Sustainability which will start in February 2026. The programme is offered in Spanish and is designed for participants from diverse professional, geographic and cultural backgrounds. Interested candidates are welcome to join an online information session on 3 February 2026 at 6pm ET.

On International Education Day 2026, UNESCO and the UN Youth Office launched the 2026 Youth Report: Lead with youth as part of the Global Education Monitoring Report series. This first-of-its-kind global assessment examines how young people and student organizations participate in education decision-making worldwide, offering data and insights into mechanisms that support meaningful youth engagement. The report underscores the importance of shaping education policies with youth as key partners.

On International Education Day 2026, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation launched a new publication on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) titled The Making of a Global Citizen. The story collection brings together personal reflections from global leaders, changemakers, and youth on the experiences that shaped their understanding of global citizenship, with a strong focus on SDG 4: Quality Education. Contributors include members of the BKMF Board alongside youth and changemakers from diverse backgrounds.

The Ages of Globalization – Higher Education programme offers a free, interdisciplinary online course designed for university students, educators, and lifelong learners who want to deepen their understanding of global systems and sustainable development. The curriculum explores historical and contemporary forces shaping globalization, connecting economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions to the SDGs. Learners can access self-paced modules and earn a certificate upon completion.

In the context of growing global uncertainty and ongoing debates on the future of the SDGs, the Bridge 47 Community has launched a series of conversations to support collective reflection on the role of education beyond 2030. The new SDG 4.7 platform provides a shared space for international, cross-sectoral dialogue on the future of SDG 4.7, fostering inclusive discussion and joint meaning-making.

👉 Webinar on 3 March 2026, 2pm CET / 8am ET

👉 Webinar on 9 April 2026, 2pm CET / 8am ET

The world faces mounting challenges to sustainable development, even as the 17 SDGs remain a shared global framework. On 10 March 2026 at 3pm CET / 9am ET, join the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for a discussion on accelerating the SDGs through regional cooperation, financial reform, and improved planning.

More than a decade after their adoption, progress on the SDGs remains seriously off track. At the same time, the United Nations is navigating significant political and financial pressures, even as its role in global cooperation remains essential. On 1 April 2026 at 3 pm CET / 9am ET, join the SDSN for a high-level dialogue on post-2030 pathways, mid-century goals, and practical strategies for advancing sustainable development in a changing global context.

Join the SDG Conference 2026 under the title Education Unscripted - The Quest for Truth, Collaborative Transformation & Solidarity in Oslo (Norway) on 2-3 February 2026. Hosted by OsloMet and the National Committee for Sustainability in Higher Education in Norway, the event explores how education and lifelong learning can help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The first day will be livestreamed from Oslo City Hall, followed by open discussions and activities at Deichman Bjørvika.

UNESCO holds over 400 partnerships with NGOs from across the globe. These official relations are guided by UNESCO’s frameworks for consultation, cooperation and joint action across UNESCO’s fields of competence. The 18th International Forum of NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO will be held virtually on 11-12 February 2026 and is open to all interested stakeholders. Registration is open now!

Save the date for SDG Action & Awareness Week 2026, hosted by the University Global Coalition in partnership with UN Academic Impact from 2-6 March 2026. This global initiative invites universities and partners to raise awareness of the SDGs through events, collaborations, and shared learning across campuses and communities worldwide.

Canada will once more adapt the SDG Action & Awareness Week into an entire Canada SDG Month 🇨🇦. Stay tuned!

The Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) 2026 will take place at Yonsei University (Sinchon Campus, Seoul, Korea) on 12–13 March 2026. Under the theme Time for Action: Emerging Technology and Global Solidarity, the forum will convene participants for open discussions on sustainability, innovation, and collective approaches to global challenges. The event is open to a broad audience interested in advancing sustainable development through dialogue and collaboration.

Save the date for Together | Ensemble 2026, Canada’s national conference on the SDGs, taking place on 19-20 May 2026 at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada). The event will bring together Indigenous leaders, youth, academics, government, business, and community partners to explore Mobilizing Local Action for Global Impact and accelerate progress on the SDGs across sectors and communities. Proposal submission is still open until 16 February 2026.

Registration is now open for the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026, happening in Jakarta (Indonesia) on 22–25 June 2026. This global event brings together leaders from universities, governments, the UN, business and civil society to accelerate action on the SDGs through cross-sector collaboration, innovation and discussion. York's UNESCO Chair team Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl will again moderate the track on education, gender, and inequality, sponsored by the Education University of Hong Kong. It will be an exciting opportunity to connect, learn and contribute to global sustainability solutions.

Save the date for the 2026 Higher Education Summit, focusing on transformative learning and ESD, and inviting global collaboration on sustainable futures. The summit will take place in Bordeaux (France) on 26–28 August 2026 and bring together educators, researchers, students, and changemakers to share insights, dialogue, and co-create approaches for equitable and sustainable education.

Save the date for ANGEL Conference 2026 hosted by the Academic Network on Global Education & Learning (ANGEL) in Bologna (Italy) on 10–11 September 2026. This global conference will highlight recent and ongoing research, policy work, and diverse perspectives on global education and learning for sustainability and justice. Early career researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners alike are encouraged to mark their calendars and watch for the call for submissions in the coming weeks.

Save the date for the 13th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) 2026, taking place on 21–25 September 2026 in Perth (Western Australia). WEEC is an international gathering on environmental education and ESD, bringing together educators, researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners from around the world to share, learn, and collaborate. Abstract submissions and registrations are now open.

Save the date for the AASHE 2026 Conference & Expo, taking place in Baltimore (Maryland, United States) on 4-6 October 2026. Hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), this annual gathering brings together faculty, sustainability professionals, administrators, students, and partners to share ideas, innovations, and actions that advance sustainability across higher education.

Save the date for the 17^th General Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU), taking place 3–6 November 2026 in Perth (Western Australia), hosted by Murdoch University. The conference will feature a dynamic programme exploring emerging trends in higher education from diverse regional perspectives and bring together global leaders, scholars, and partners to shape the future of universities.

Save the date for the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), taking place in Antalya (Türkiye) on 9–20 November 2026. COP 30 accepted Türkiye’s offer to host COP 31 in Antalya, welcoming an arrangement between Türkiye and Australia to share the Presidency. COP31 is the 31^st session of the Conference of the Parties under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, bringing together governments, civil society, knowledge institutions, and stakeholders to advance global climate action and policy. Education days during COPs regularly highlight the relevance of climate change education and ESD.

UNESCO, together with the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO and POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, convened the Global Symposium on Transforming Futures: Enhancing Practice for ESD for 2030 through Action Research on 19-21 January 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The event brought together educators, researchers, ASPnet coordinators, and other education stakeholders from around the world to share lessons learned and good practices from action research that advances ESD for 2030.

The ESD-NET Europe–North America Regional Workshop took place from 21–23 January 2026 in Bucharest, Romania, convening ESD-NET focal points, member state representatives, UNESCO Chairs, youth networks, and regional partners. Co-organized by UNESCO, the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, and POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, the workshop focused on strengthening regional collaboration on ESD for 2030, with particular attention to action research, greening education, biodiversity, youth engagement, and pathways toward post-2030 agendas.

The 14th Global RCE Conference was held on 21–23 October 2025 in Okayama, Japan. The conference brought together Regional Centers of Expertise on ESD (RCEs) and key stakeholders across the globe in celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Global RCE Network. It reflected on the evolving role of ESD in addressing sustainability challenges and explored new approaches to education towards a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable world. One of the central outcomes was the 2025 Okayama Declaration on ESD.