International Education Day, celebrated annually on January 24 and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, recognizes the vital role education plays in peace, sustainable development, and human well-being. As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education stands as one of the most powerful levers to accelerate progress across all targets, especially SDG 4: Quality Education.
In this context, and considering the importance of equipping students and young people with skills to build a sustainable future, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) stands as a key tool to to equip learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, values, and agency needed to address interconnected global challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to inequality, digital divides, and peace building. In 2026, halfway through the implementation of UNESCO’s ESD for 2030 Roadmap, the urgency to scale inclusive, transformative learning has never been clearer.
This intergenerational dialogue builds on SDSN Youth’s mission to empower young people to become drivers of change and to promote cross-generational collaboration that strengthens impact at local, national, and global levels.