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Press Conference of ESD Official Supporters

We support ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) towards the UNESCO World Conference on ESD in 2014.

On October 31, 2012, a Press Conference of ESD Official Supporters was held in the Museum of MEXT Lounge. The event was attended by a large audience including former Vice Minister Masayoshi Nataniya and the Chairperson of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO Tetsuo Tamura.

Description of ESD Official Supporters

The ESD Official Supporters were formed to promote ESD towards the UNESCO World Conference on ESD in 2014. The conference will be co-organized by UNESCO and the Government of Japan, and will be held in Nagoya city (Aichi Prefecture) and Okayama city.
Six individuals from various fields of expertise have been selected as ESD Official Supporters. The members include;

  • Sakana-kun (ichthyologist, illustrator)
  • Keiko Hirano (storyteller)
  • Ayako Kisa (announcer)
  • Takako Shirai (singer)
  • Katsuhiko Hibino (artist)
  • Takayuki Hattori (composer)

Each member gave a unique speech, including Takako Shirai’s performance of an improvised song which encompassed the concept of ESD.
Vice Minister Masayoshi Nataniya highly praised each member and affirmed MEXT’s resolution to promote the implementation of ESD.
ESD Official Supporters will work towards spreading ESD through their various activities.

(from left)MEXT Vice Minister Masayoshi Nataniya, Katsuhiko Hibino, Takako Shirai, Ayako Kisa, Keiko Hirano, Sakana-kun, Chairperson of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO Tetsuo Tamura

(from left)MEXT Vice Minister Masayoshi Nataniya, Katsuhiko Hibino, Takako Shirai, Ayako Kisa, Keiko Hirano, Sakana-kun, Chairperson of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO Tetsuo Tamura

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) fosters people for a sustainable society. The world today faces many challenging issues such as problems related to the environment, poverty, human rights, conflict and development. ESD aims to confront these global issues from a local point of view to come up with solutions leading to new values and actions to create a more sustainable society.
The UN General Assembly in 2002 adopted a resolution proposed by the Government of Japan, establishing a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD),during 2005-2014. With UNESCO as the lead agency of the Decade, various efforts for its implementation are progressing worldwide.
The UNESCO World Conference on ESD will be co-organized in November 2014 in Nagoya city (Aichi Prefecture) and Okayama city by UNESCO and the Government of Japan on the occasion of the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. 

taken from The Monthly Journal of MEXT, DECEMBER 2012 No.157 issue

（Office of the Director-General for International Affairs/ Public Relations Office）

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