The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: business as usual in the end

Abstract

An analysis of the literature supporting the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and a sample of its key products suggests that it failed to acknowledge or challenge neoliberalism as a hegemonic force blocking transitions towards genuine sustainability. The authors argue that the rationale for the Decade was idealistic and that global education for sustainability citizenship provides a more realistic focus for such an initiative. They anchor such education in appropriate social theory, outline its four dimensions and use these to review four key products from the Decade, before suggesting remedial measures to render ESD a more effective vehicle for promoting democratic global governance and sustainability.

Keywords:

• DESD
• neoliberalism
• global citizenship
• ecopedagogy
• sustainability citizen

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Huckle

John Huckle is a geographical and environmental educator who taught at De Montfort and London South Bank Universities. His website is at http://john.huckle.org.uk

Arjen E.J. Wals

Arjen Wals is a professor and UNESCO Chair in social learning and sustainable development at Wageningen University in The Netherlands. He also is an adjunct faculty member of Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources and a visiting professor at Gothenburg University. His blog can be found at: www.transformativelearning.nl