This is the first session of the “Forging Youth-Led Innovation for the SDGs” webinar series. Register here.
Background
Youth leadership and innovation is widely recognized as an invaluable opportunity for addressing global climate change and developing solutions in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Transformational sustainability education can serve as one method of leveraging this opportunity, especially in a post-secondary environment. Education for sustainable development (ESD) is an initiative of UNESCO that provides an overarching framework for leveraging youth leadership and incorporating the SDGs in education systems.
Specifically, ESD falls in line with Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which is to “ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.” Recognizing the critical role of youth in the achievement of Target 4.7 through the application of ESD, this webinar series seeks to support educators, youth, decision-makers, and communities in strategically using and improving transformational sustainability education to foster youth leadership, innovation, and climate action.
Delivered jointly by the North American EcoInnovation Network (EIN), Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), SDSN USA, and Columbia Climate School, this webinar series aims to address the gaps that exist in sustainability education for youth aged 18-30 in North America.
From June to October, the partnership will deliver six hour-long virtual webinars led by industry leaders on topics including sustainability curriculum development, youth innovation and leadership skills development, and ethics in action, among other themes relating to ESD, the SDGs, and youth leadership. Webinars will incorporate a mixture of knowledge dissemination and application opportunities, such as breakout rooms and Q&A sessions, and will be broad and applicable to a range of audiences, namely youth leaders and innovators, educators, policymakers, and decision makers.
Overall, this partnership aims to provide applicable and wide-ranging skills development opportunities to foster youth leadership through transformative sustainability education. Youth, educators, and policymakers will benefit from opportunities to learn about ESD, and gain strategies and skills related to fostering and accelerating youth leadership for the SDGs.
Timeline & Registration
Webinars will take place the second Monday of every month from June to October 2023, with two installments taking place in the final month of the series. The webinar series will have live translation in English, French, and Spanish.
Audience
While the webinar series seeks to foster youth leadership, the unique design of this series and nature of the partnership allows for the curation of a webinar series that is applicable to a wide range of audiences, including educators, trainers, youth (18-30), practitioners, entrepreneurs, and researchers. All these stakeholder groups play a role in the development of youth leaders who have the ability to address global challenges. Different installments may cater more to some audiences than others, but all stakeholder groups are welcome and encouraged to attend all sessions.
In addition to the broad applicability of all themes, a diverse set of thought leaders is being curated to bring a heterogeneity in the perspectives and experiences on youth leadership and ESD. Our curated and diverse speaker list makes the series relevant, engaging, and advantageous for all stakeholder groups involved in the development of youth leadership and ESD.
Partnership Details
The product of a newly created partnership between the North American EcoInnovation Network based at the University of Waterloo and Columbia Climate Climate School at Columbia University, this series has been supported by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation along with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network chapters of Canada, United States, and Mexico. Developed in parallel to a recent open call seeking the formalization of a Youth Leadership Steering Committee, this webinar series seeks to help participating organizations and individuals build momentum towards future youth leadership programming focused on entrepreneurship and innovation for sustainable development.