In a remarkable recognition of his lifelong commitment to sustainability, 91亚色鈥檚 Charles Hopkins has earned the esteemed 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The award celebrates his significant contributions to education, positioning him among a select group of leaders in higher education and sustainability transformation. Hopkins, who holds the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability at 91亚色, is the seventh recipient since the award鈥檚 inception in 2006 and the first Canadian to receive the award.

Since assuming the role of UNESCO Chair at 91亚色 in 1999, he has dedicated his efforts to integrating sustainable practices into both the curricula and operations of the University. 

Through his leadership, Hopkins has helped develop collaborations between institutions, engaging thousands of learners in activities that aim to address some of the world鈥檚 most pressing environmental challenges. 

Hopkins has also been a driving force for advancing education for sustainable development (ESD) initiatives across the globe. He coordinates two global research networks (the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions and the #IndigenousESD Network), each active in more than 50 countries, and acts as co-director of the Asia-Pacific Institute on ESD in Beijing. 

鈥淎ASHE is honoured to highlight the work of a person who has committed his life鈥檚 work to advancing education for sustainable development," says Meghan Fay Zahniser, executive director of AASHE. "Through decades of international and regional collaborations, Hopkins鈥� work continues to inspire and advance equitable learning across the globe.鈥� 

The award honours outstanding leaders 鈥� both academic and practitioners 鈥� with 10 or more years of impactful contributions to the advancement of sustainability in higher education. 

鈥淭his award symbolizes the collective effort of many passionate individuals at 91亚色 who are dedicated to sustainability,鈥� says Hopkins. 鈥淭ogether, we strive to harness education as a powerful tool for creating meaningful change.鈥� 

Hopkins鈥� extensive commitment to sustainability has positioned 91亚色 as a leader in the field and has contributed to the development of transformative educational practices that cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.  

To read more about AASHE鈥檚 awards programs, visit . 

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The QS ImpACT Awards notably highlight the outstanding contributions of individuals who have served as catalysts for transformative change on a local and global scale through projects, events and initiatives in local communities or institutions that explored solutions to the sustainability challenges of today.

鈥淚t is crucial to recognize the engagement of young people with the SDGs [United Nations Sustainable Development Goals] with this award ceremony, as it does not only recognize individual achievement but creates a global community of changemakers for sustainability,鈥� says Hopkins.

Youth activism is also critical for sustainable development because it 鈥渃an lead to lasting societal change,鈥� adds Terry.

The 91亚色 members鈥� selection as judges is not only an acknowledgement of their own impact on global sustainability efforts but a recognition that 91亚色 is continuing to strengthen its momentum as a global leader in sustainability, which has included participation and appearances in rankings organized by QS, a leading international company in the education sector and a partner of QS ImpACT.

The award ceremony will be held online on Jan. 18. Register to attend: .

Article published in the January 9, 2024 issue of聽

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91亚色鈥檚 UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability Charles Hopkins, along with Executive Coordinator to the UNESCO Chair Katrin Kohl, will be among 250 experts presenting concepts toward implementing education for sustainable development (ESD) at a global UNESCO meeting in Japan.

鈥淭ransforming education together: ESD-NET Global Meeting鈥� takes place Dec. 18 to 20 and aims to highlight progress on ESD through new country-led initiatives, trends and innovations for the 2030 Agenda 鈥� an action plan to encompass the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UNESCO Chair at 91亚色 focuses on developing and strengthening global networks, as well as creating and fostering research that supports responsible and inclusive policymaking in reorienting education toward sustainability in the SDGs and beyond.

In light of the global climate crisis, humans must learn to live together sustainably and change the way they think and act as individuals and societies, says Kohl. 鈥淓ducation has an important role to play and, in turn, must change to create a peaceful and sustainable world for the survival and prosperity of current and future generations.鈥�

ESD has been identified by the United Nations as an empowering concept to address growing sustainability challenges. The global meeting will serve as a forum to understand how educators can enable learners to develop the knowledge and awareness to act for a better future.

Experts from around to world will unlock ideas for concrete, transformative action and identify specific interventions that can be carried out by UNESCO麓s member states, says Hopkins, who will contribute perspectives on higher education鈥檚 unique roles and how the whole-institution approach, or even a whole-community approach, can come to life. Canada aims to launch its own country initiative on ESD with a pan-Canadian working group in early 2024.

The session 鈥溾�� aims to discuss how to enable higher education institutions to inspire societal change through the lens of education, research and innovation, and how to embed core sustainability competencies within educational programs.

Kohl will co-moderate the 鈥溾�� to create shared projects and research focusing on transformation, technology and governance as future priorities for ESD.

The meeting will take place as a hybrid event at the United Nations University Main Campus in Tokyo. Plenary sessions on the first day will be livestreamed. For more information, visit the .

Article originally published in the December 13, 2023 issue of

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On March 7, the Faculty of Education will host a public lecture from 7 to 8:30 p.m., by speaker Charles Hopkins, the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability at 91亚色.

Titled 鈥淓ducating for Tomorrow鈥檚 Unknown: Sustainability Front and Center,鈥� the lecture will address how 鈥� through the (UN SDGs) 鈥� countries are now called upon to provide quality education that prioritizes sustainability and encourages young people to become global citizens.

Hopkins will illuminate how all levels of educators, education professionals, students and parents can become engaged and make a collective impact with global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss and rising inequalities 鈥� locally or in other parts of the world.

An awarded education leader with several honorary doctorates and professorships, Hopkins has lectured and presented papers in approximately 75 countries. He has coordinated two global Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) research networks 鈥� the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions and the #IndigenousESD, which aims to improve the education outcomes of Indigenous youth. Internationally, Hopkins has a long relationship with education and sustainability, chairing the writing and adoption processes of several UNESCO ESD Declarations. He is also the co-director of the Asia-Pacific Institute on ESD in Beijing, China.

This talk is a part of the Faculty of Education鈥檚 Public Lecture Series featuring leading scholars from the Faculty sharing their research and scholarship on key publicly relevant issues in education and society.

This free event will be live-streamed on Zoom and all are welcome to attend. .

Click here to learn more about how 91亚色 is contributing to the United Nation鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals.

Article originally published in the February 24, 2023 issue of .

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with Charles Hopkins (UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability)

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising inequalities, whether happening locally or in other parts of the world, not only impact our individual future but are central for collective action in tackling these and other global challenges. How can we understand global issues, and their interconnectedness? How can we learn to live sustainably and ethically without the feeling of only giving up or cutting back?

United Nations member states agreed upon a plan towards a sustainable future, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Countries are called upon to provide quality education that addresses our common future by positioning sustainability as a purpose of education and encouraging young people to become global citizens.

What does this exactly mean for educators, parents, and students? Are we to add more content to an already overcrowded curriculum? This presentation addresses roles and concrete ways for educators at all levels, education professionals, students, and parents to understand the need, become engaged, and make a difference.

Charles Hopkins聽holds the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability at 91亚色 in Toronto, Canada. This Chair, established in 1999, was the first to focus on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as an overarching concept and a purpose of education. Hopkins coordinates two global ESD research networks, the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions and the #IndigenousESD. The first network is comprised of teacher education institutions spanning 50 countries and focuses on enhancing ESD in preservice and in-service teacher training. The second network covering 40 countries aims to embed ESD in curricula to improve the education outcomes of Indigenous youth.

Internationally, Hopkins has a long relationship with education and sustainability, chairing the writing and adoption processes of several UNESCO ESD Declarations. An awarded education leader with several honorary doctorates and professorships, Hopkins has lectured and presented papers in approximately 75 countries. He is also the Co-Director of the Asia-Pacific Institute on ESD in Beijing, China.

The Faculty of Education鈥檚 Public Lecture Series features leading scholars from the Faculty sharing their research and scholarship on key publicly relevant issues in education and society.

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91亚色 UNESCO Chair  was awarded the Lithuanian State Award on July 6 by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Naus臈da. 

Lithuanian and foreign citizens were presented with state orders and medals for their services to the Republic of Lithuania. 

Naus臈da recognized Hopkins for making a significant contribution to the preservation and free transfer of unique documents of the history of Lithuanian diplomacy to the Lithuanian Museum of Canada. 

Among the 60 individuals who were awarded for helping to build sustainable international ties of peace, friendship and cultural exchange, Hopkins鈥� work in rescuing and safeguarding documents representing international treaties proving the Lithuanian independence during the period of 1918 to 1940 was recognized as important work to public service and life.  

鈥淚 am humbled by this recognition by the government of the Republic of Lithuania. I share the respect for these tangible documents as proof of the existence of the Lithuanian state as an independent nation, especially during times when ground truth and facts are questioned,鈥� said Hopkins.  

Hopkins found the documents on a rainy morning in the 1980s when he noticed a pile of books and documents abandoned on a neighbour鈥檚 driveway after the home was being put up for sale. He had known that his neighbour, the late wife of the former Lithuanian Ambassador to Canada, had several formal government documents stored in the house from her late husband鈥檚 years of diplomatic service, and so Hopkins decided to retrieve the boxes, knowing he would ensure they were taken care of properly. 

Hopkins discovered documents signed by Japanese Emperor Hirohito, Russian leader Vladimir Lenin, Pope Pius XI, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, King George V and many more, including a large, detailed map outlining the border with Russia and other neighbouring countries. 

After several attempts working to return the documents to the Lithuanian community, the documents sat in Hopkin's basement for up to 40 years until 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hopkins came upon the Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada located in Mississauga, Ontario during one of his walks with his wife.  

When Hopkins spoke to the exhibition curator, they recognized the items Hopkins had owned and understood the value of the documents. The items were then handed over to the Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius. 

鈥淚 was relieved when we finally turned the documents over to Lithuanian authorities. I had tried before but with no luck. While I did not see their eventual significance, I took them in. I always knew that my neighbours had gone to great lengths to get these boxes to safety and felt I needed to protect them. I knew it was the right thing to do, and I am glad I was able to return these documents to their rightful owners, ending their 80-plus years in hiding,鈥� said Hopkins. 

Since April 2021, the documents have been returned to the government of the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius. They have been restored and are now available to the public to view at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. 

For his efforts in keeping the long-sought documents safe and returning them, Hopkins was also awarded the honour of the National Archive at a ceremony in Toronto in November 2021. 

In addition to travelling to Lithuania to receive his award, Hopkins is adding further value to his travels to Europe in support of the  initiative. He has held meetings with the National Education Agency in Lithuania with university network partners to discuss perspectives on recent United Nations developments in education and initiated new projects for future teachers in Lithuania. During this trip, he is also spending time at the Global Citizenship Alliance in Salzburg, Austria, working with a new generation of higher education faculty and administrators from the United States to engage in the global pursuit of sustainability.  

For more information and to view a virtual exhibition of the Lithuanian international treaties, visit  

Article originally published in the July 14, 2022 issue of .

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91亚色 International and the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability will be co-hosting this session on July 5 featuring speakers Helen Balderama and Charles Hopkins as part of The being held from 5 鈥� 7 July and 11 鈥� 15 July 2022, in New 91亚色. Under the theme 鈥�Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development鈥� the Forum will take into account the different and particular impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across all Sustainable Development Goals and the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Goals.

The Division for Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA/DSDG) and the New 91亚色 Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are organizing the 鈥� a series of capacity building and knowledge learning sessions as a Special Event to the HLPF.

The will align with the 2022 HLPF theme: "Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". It will feature speakers and experts on crucial topics related to the implementation of the SDGs to be reviewed at the 2022 HLPF: SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 14, SDG 15 and SDG 17.

Ten learning sessions will be organized by organizations from different sectors and regions and distributed during the first five days of the HLPF (5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 July), in both in person and virtual formats. Check the detailed programme .

Registration is now open to all interested national governments, international organizations and stakeholder organizations.

• Please, register here:
• More information:

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Honouring this year麓s World Environment Day and following the success of the Earth Day event in April 2022, 91亚色鈥檚 UNESCO Chair in partnership with Toronto-based painter and poet Gail Williams will hold the 2^nd #Arts2030 Dialogue on Sunday, 5 June 2022 at 11 am. They will address the unique role of the arts and culture in humanity麓s hope for a sustainable future and on how the arts and culture model sustainability in their practice. Charles Hopkins and Gail Williams will explore the place of culture and the arts for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the current development paradigm towards 2030.

If you wish to attend the 2^nd #Arts2030 Dialogue at Bunker Lane Press in Toronto in person, please RSVP at your earliest convenience to unescochair@edu.yorku.ca. The event will be limited to 25 attendees. All attendees must produce proof of vaccination upon arrival (three vaccinations required). Masks are to be worn at all times.

If you would like to see the PRIMAL LANDSCAPE paintings that are inspired by a love for the environment, the art show at Bunker Lane Press, 1001 Rear Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1M1, Canada will be open daily from 3-6 June 2022, 11 am 鈥� 2 pm.

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There is a powerful tool that can help to address the interconnected global challenges of our time, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, poverty and inequality 鈥� and this tool is education.

Yet how do we hone such a tool to enhance its application and impact? How do we ensure it can be effectively used in different circumstances and communities across the globe? Such questions are at the core of the career-long efforts of Charles Hopkins, 91亚色鈥檚 UNESCO Chair, who received the 2022 Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in reorienting education systems towards sustainable development and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

Climate challenges affect us all 鈥� and they cannot be resolved by anything less than a collaborative approach, says Mr. Hopkins. 鈥淲e need to create linkages between governments, academia, business, industry, the arts and civil society. What is required is a sense of responsibility and engagement from everyone to advance a common goal: a better future for all, while 鈥榓ll鈥� is not limited to humans.鈥�

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91亚色鈥檚 UNESCO Chair Charles Hopkins is the recipient of the Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on a global scale to reorient education towards sustainable development. This prestigious award recognizes Hopkins鈥� focus on creating a better future for all.

Climate challenges facing Canada can not be resolved by anything less than a collaborative, full assault on every element of the problem. Broad solutions are needed. To create holistic strategies for future economies and imagine better ways of living together in Canada and beyond, thought leaders from all sectors of industry, business, academia, the arts and civil society need to be involved.

颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 award program and annual were founded in 2011 by 颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 leading clean tech and sustainability executive search firm Delta Management Group to bring these sustainability leaders together. In its 10th edition, 颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 Clean50 Awards celebrate the 2022 top sustainability leaders in Canada. Fifty remarkable and inspiring individuals in 16 different categories as well as emerging leaders, Canadian business and five selected sustainability heroes will be recognized with Lifetime Achievement Awards during this year鈥檚 summit, which took place Oct. 1. A record number of nominations were received for this year鈥檚 awards.

, 91亚色鈥檚 UNESCO Chair, received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of dedicated engagement in reorienting education systems towards sustainable development as well as fostering cross-sector thinking connecting academia with business, industry, the arts and the general public towards a better future for all. As one of the early advocates for place-based and experiential learning as a principal of outdoor schools in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s, his list of involvements is long. He presented to the Brundtland Commission and co-authored Chapter 36 in Agenda 21, the first United Nations implementation plan for a more sustainable future, coming out of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Since assuming the role of at 91亚色 in 1999, he has been co-ordinating two global research networks, each active in more than 50 countries: the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions and the #IndigenousESD Network. He is advisor to the Global Network of Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD hosted by the United Nations University鈥檚 Institute of Advanced Studies in Sustainability, and co-director of the Asia-Pacific Institute on ESD in Beijing.

As a member of the President's Sustainability Council at 91亚色 and the co-chair of the Knowledge Working Group, Hopkins works to embed the idea of the 鈥渦niversity as a whole鈥� moving towards sustainability, placing sustainable development as a theme in the curriculum, rethinking operations, facilities and management practices, and changing the culture on 91亚色鈥檚 campuses.

As part of its new , 91亚色 articulated its commitment to elevate action on the United Nations鈥� 17 Sustainable Development Goals and contribute meaningfully to building a better future.

Original article published in the October 3, 2021 issue of

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