Charles A. Hopkins, an internationally recognized pioneer in education for sustainable development and the inaugural holder of the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability at 91亚色, has been named a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 highest civilian honours. His decades-long leadership in embedding sustainability into education 鈥� from shaping curricula and campus practices at 91亚色 to partnering with UNESCO, the United Nations University and global ministries of education 鈥� has inspired learners and educators around the world to make sustainability a core principle of teaching and learning.

The Order of Canada, established in 1967, honours individuals whose contributions have had a lasting impact in Canada and beyond.

Read more about Hopkins and all nine 91亚色 community members honoured in this year鈥檚 Order of Canada announcement: /yfile/2026/01/07/order-of-canada-honours-nine-york-community-members/  

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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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91亚色 UNESCO Chair Charles Hopkins will speak at the 2023 Global Conference on Sustainable Development on Oct. 4 and 5 in Hong Kong to discuss how to transform higher education towards embracing sustainability and elevate action to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This is the first international conference organized by the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The centre of discussion during the conference will be about strengthening the world鈥檚 commitment to the SDGs in all sectors of society and finding solutions to current and future climate and societal challenges.

Hopkins will speak on the potential of education for sustainable development (ESD) in promoting transformative, holistic change in universities, as higher education can play crucial roles in reorienting student learning, supporting a sustainable future with evidence-based knowledge, and providing support for local and global communities.

鈥淪ince ESD has been recognized by the United Nations as a key enabler of all SDGs, it is imperative to be implemented at all levels of education, in particular in higher education, as universities are important influencers within society,鈥� says Hopkins.

In August, Hopkins, as well as Katrin Kohl, executive coordinator to the UNESCO Chair, were appointed members of the High-Level Advisory Council for the SDG Academy, representing SDSN鈥檚 education and training division.

At the upcoming conference, Hopkins will join a group of world-renowned speakers, including Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations secretary general, and co鈥恈hair of the Ban Ki鈥恗oon Centre for Global Citizens, as well as Professor Jeffrey Sachs, SDSN president. Both will share their visions for a sustainable future and discuss practical solutions from around the world for the implementation of the SDGs.

The event will take place as a hybrid event in-person at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and will be streamed live on Oct. 4 and 5. Online registration is free. More details can be found at .

Article originally published in the September 27, 2023 issue of

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The BA Educational Studies program looks at all aspects of education, including policy, the psychology of education, teaching and adult education. The Capstone Course aims to make students aware of some of their choices beyond becoming teachers by exploring other career options through interviews and conversations with professionals in education-related fields and by applying their learning from the program to authentic community-based contexts.

Seven students from the program met with UNESCO Project Officer Katja Anger and UNESCO Chair Charles Hopkins to understand UNESCO麓s role within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and learn about the efforts in achieving quality education, in particular through the of more than 12,500 schools worldwide.

Students explored how to best explain sustainability, the SDGs, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) or Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in video segments and created three educational videos 鈥� from conceptualizing, scripting, performing, shooting, editing, and finalizing the video product.

"Participating students had been passionate about sustainable development, climate action, and social justice before. Yet, with their new knowledge and an opportunity to have an impact beyond the classroom, they saw that their voice was important and felt empowered to make a difference now and in the future," said Celia Popovic, Undergraduate Program Director, Academic Programs in the Faculty of Education.

The student videos will now be shared with UNESCO Associated Schools in Canada and beyond and other young people will have the opportunity to engage with the perspectives and perceptions of their peers.

"The videos present young voices to the discussion of our global challenges today and tomorrow," said UNSECO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, Charles Hopkins. "This project is one example of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Education seeking ways to respond to the pressing challenge inherent in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Taking part in this initiative has allowed my partner and I to become more knowledgeable as global citizens and as change makers in our community. It is critical that ESD is applied to all aspects of our lives, as this will create significant change and transformation - Bachelor of Arts Educational Studies degree program students Andreana Cassar and Vanessa Ramos

91亚色 is internationally recognized for its commitment and contributions to addressing the SDGs through teaching, research, stewardship and partnerships as outlined in the University Academic Plan. 91亚色 offers over 1600 courses related to at least one of the SDGs and funds ground-breaking research to advance 91亚色鈥檚 contribution to the SDGs. For their positive efforts, 91亚色 was recognized among the World麓s TOP 35 universities in impact for sustainable development by the renown 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking.

Article written by Celia Popovic (Undergraduate Program Director, Academic Programs) and Katrin Kohl (Executive Coordinator to the UNESCO Chair)

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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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For her international engagement with sustainable development, 91亚色鈥檚 Executive Coordinator to the UNESCO Chair, Katrin Kohl, has been awarded a fellowship by The Royal Society of Arts in London.

The Royal Society of Arts recognizes outstanding contributions and thought leadership in positively impacting society for a better future. Members come from all walks of life and branches of learning that align with these values and have contributed to positive change in the arts, humanities or sciences.

As 91亚色麓s UNESCO Chair, Kohl leads research and provides policy advice for education for sustainable development (ESD) 鈥� which is recognized as a key enabler for the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to this role, Kohl served in strategic management positions at the University of Duesseldorf (Germany) as well as the German National Commission for UNESCO. She was actively involved in the negotiation process that led to the adoption of the SDGs in 2015.

With this fellowship, 91亚色鈥檚 community is once more recognized as a driving force for positive change and committed to embed the SDGs throughout the whole institution, said Kohl.

Article originally published in the June 24, 2022 issue of .

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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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