IRIS continues to extend its credentials in sustainability. Its director, Daniella Tilbury, has been nominated by the UK Government, Department of Children, Schools and Families as the UK representative on a UN Expert Group. The UNECE Secretariat has recently confirmed her selection as a member and invited her to attend a meeting in Sweden next week.
The Expert Group on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) set up by the United Nations Economic Council for Europe (UNECE) has a mandate to advice on the implementation of the UNECE Strategy for ESD and recommendations made at the Sixth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" (Belgrade, 10-12 October 2007).
Overall, the Expert Group will work to (a) generate recommendations for European and national policymakers and (b) guide efforts by countries in the UNECE region seeking to develop ESD competencies of educators and learners. The mandate of the Group is outlined in the report of the 4th session of the UNECE Steering Committee on ESD. The Expert Group will provide an important contribution to the United Nations Decade of ESD. The first Expert Group meeting will take place in Lund, Sweden on the 30 Sep - 2 October 2009.
For further information about the UNECE Strategy on ESD please visit http://www.unece.org/env/esd/welcome.htm
30th September 2009