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National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland
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The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provides a framework to support the contribution that the education sector is making and will continue to make towards a more sustainable future at a number of levels: individual, community, local, national and international.
ESD to 2030 is co-sponsored by the Department of Education, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development - ESD to 2030
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First National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland, 2014-2020
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The Interim Review of The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland 2014 – 2020 reflects consultation with stakeholders. It provides evidence of the considerable progress that has been achieved in raising awareness about and embedding Education for Sustainable Development principles and practices at all levels in our education system.
National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland Report of Interim Review and Action Plan for Q4 2018-Q4 2020
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On World Earth Day, 22 April 2021, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and Minister for Education Norma Foley jointly launched a public consultation on the development of the second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development to 2030, by their two departments. The consultation closed on 30 June 2021. Learn more at:
ESD to 2030- Consultation Report
Report on the key themes emerging from the public consultation process
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ESD to 2030: Ireland’s New Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development: Report on Public Consultation Survey
April – June 2021
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ESD to 2030 – Funding Call for Schools – September 2023
The September 2023 ESD Funding Call for Schools has now closed.
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The Education for Sustainable Development Newsletter will keep you up to date with the latest ESD news.
A National Steering Group to oversee implementation of ESD to 2030
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An Advisory Group for ESD in Further and Higher Education
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The National Forum on Education for Sustainable Development is held on an annual basis.
The ESD Forum provides an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on Ireland’s progress in relation to Education for Sustainable Development, developments and themes emergent in this sphere, a platform for discussion and engagement, networking and sharing of ideas to facilitate discourse on future direction in this key area.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) envisages the public sector leading by example on climate action to reach the target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and becoming climate neutral no later than 2050. Each public sector body to which the Mandate applies will develop a Climate Action Roadmap setting out how it will deliver on its energy efficiency and emissions reduction targets.
Recognising the variance between large public bodies and the school sector and the distinctive role schools are playing in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate, a dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate was published in March 2023. The School Sector Climate Action Mandate sets out the overall targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage and how schools can play their part in the Climate Action agenda including through the adoption of a Sustainability Policy Statement.
The Department has developed a Sustainability Toolkit for Schools to support them in adopting a Sustainability Policy Statement. The toolkit consists of:
Your school can use the sustainability toolkit to support the development of your schools Sustainability Policy Statement. Celebrate and share the work your school is doing to show leadership on Climate Action.
The Department has compiled this list of ESD related Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for teachers. The list will be updated as required.
The Department of Education as the National Commission for UNESCO in Ireland, can nominate up to five projects for the Hamdan Prize 2023/ 24 for Teacher Development including initiatives that “represent an outstanding contribution to the fundamental objectives of UNESCO and the UN in the field of quality education for sustainable development”.
The application form is available below
Applications should be emailed to ESD@Education.gov.ie by 17 January 2024.
Nominations may also come from national organisations in official partnership with UNESCO. A full list is available on the UNESCO website.
Further Information on the Hamdan Prize is available here: UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development
UNESCO is also inviting applications for the King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education which recognises innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal 4 on education . The theme for this call is Digital Learning for greening education and the closing date for receipt of applications is 5 February 2024.
To apply for this prize you will need to: Request a user account www.unesco.org/ict-ed-prize/register and then fill in the online application www.unesco.org/ict-ed-prize
Further information is available here: UNESCO ICT in Education Prize