91ÑÇÉ«

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the 91ÑÇÉ« UNESCO Chair Newsletter.

March is a month of reflection and action. International Women’s Day highlights the continued importance of advancing gender equality and recognizing the leadership of women and girls in sustainable development. SDG Action & Awareness Week calls for renewed efforts to accelerate progress across the (SDGs). The month also includes World Water Day, which focuses global attention on the value of freshwater and the urgent need for sustainable water management. Communication and public awareness about urgent sustainability challenges, such as gender, water, or other themes in the the SDGs, are core elements of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), as ESD is set to inform, engage, and empower people to understand complex issues and take responsible action.

Momentum around ESD, including transforming education efforts and whole-institution approaches, continues to grow, emphasizing the need for more collaboration, innovation, and practical solutions to advance sustainability.

In this issue, we share selected events, opportunities, and resources for March and beyond. Please feel free to share this newsletter with colleagues and networks.

Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl
UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, 91ÑÇÉ«

Join the conversation for SDG Action & Awareness Week 2026, hosted by the University Global Coalition in partnership with UN Academic Impact from 2-6 March 2026. This global initiative invites universities and partners to raise awareness of the SDGs through events, collaborations, and shared learning across campuses and communities worldwide.

Canada will once more extend the SDG Action & Awareness Week into an entire 🇨🇦! March 2026 is a national collaborative initiative bringing universities and colleges together throughout March to advance the SDGs. Campuses will host workshops, panels, and interactive activities that raise awareness, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspire action among students, educators, and communities across the country.

The Bridge 47 Community has launched a series of conversations - next dates: 3 March and 9 April 2026 at 2pm CET / 8am ET - to support collective reflection on the role of education beyond 2030. This new SDG 4.7 platform provides a shared space for international, cross-sectoral dialogue on the future of SDG 4.7, fostering inclusive discussion and joint meaning-making.

On 10 March 2026 at 1.30pm CET / 8:30am ET, this joint UNESCO ESD-Net and Greening Education Partnership  seeks to explore practical approaches to advancing ESD and greening higher education. Furthermore, the webinar fosters collaboration within the ESD-Net and GEP communities, strengthening synergies and expanding engagement around shared sustainability priorities. 

The world faces mounting challenges to sustainable development, even as the 17 SDGs remain a shared global framework. On 10 March 2026 at 3pm CET / 9am ET, join the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for a discussion on accelerating the SDGs through regional cooperation, financial reform, and improved planning.

Postsecondary institutions play a vital role in advancing the SDGs through their missions of teaching, research, and in meaningful community engagement. While many universities and colleges already integrate the SDGs into their strategies, operations, and pedagogical practices, progress remains uneven across the country. On 18 March 2026 at 1:30pm ET, this SDG Connections webinar offers a national space to reflect together on best approaches and to strengthen collaboration. 91ÑÇÉ«'s UNESCO Co Chair Katrin Kohl is invited to offer an overview of ESD in Canada.

The , observed annually on 19 March, highlights the role of digital technologies in expanding access to quality education and supporting lifelong learning for all.

The 2026 theme, Building digital futures for public education, focuses on developing trusted public digital platforms and resources that support learners, teachers, and education systems worldwide. UNESCO invites organizations and individuals to feature and celebrate digital learning platforms and other digital commons that support, extend and enrich public education.

Join this livestream conversation on 24 March 2026 at 10am ET / 3pm CET. Hosted by our colleague Dr. Lokman Karadag, we will jointly explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping global education efforts and discuss the implications for sustainable development. How can ESD respond to this new emerging challenge? We will consider opportunities, risks, and responsibilities as education systems respond to rapid technological change, with reflections on human agency and the future of learning across regions.

On 25 March 2026, UNESCO will launch the new 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on access and equity in education, addressing barriers that prevent many learners from fully participating in quality education worldwide. The report examines disparities related to poverty, gender, disability, displacement, and location, and highlights policy pathways to advance more inclusive education systems. This forthcoming report will provide important evidence and guidance for governments, institutions, and educators working to achieve equitable education for all in line with SDG 4.

Join the inaugural SDG Tales: Local Stories, Global Impact virtual event on 26 March at 1pm ET, an online gathering that will celebrate community leaders driving sustainable change across Canada. You will be able to listen to first-hand stories from people advancing the SDGs in diverse local contexts, showing how community initiatives can contribute to meaningful global progress. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with others who share a commitment to more sustainable and just futures, while gaining new inspiration for their own context.

The first quarterly Working Group meeting of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) will take place on 31 March 2026 at 8am ET / 2pm CET. GEP members will share updates on initiatives to advance climate and sustainability education, including greening schools, curriculum development, teacher training, and community engagement. This session offers an opportunity to learn about current progress, exchange experiences, and strengthen collaboration across the partnership.

More than a decade after their adoption, progress on the SDGs remains seriously off track. At the same time, the United Nations is navigating significant political and financial pressures, even as its role in global cooperation remains essential. On 1 April 2026 at 3pm CET / 9am ET, join the SDSN for a high-level dialogue on post-2030 pathways, mid-century goals, and practical strategies for advancing sustainable development in a changing global context.

On 21-24 May 2026, the 13^th International Youth Conference (IYC13) will bring together young leaders, diplomats, and changemakers from more than 100 countries in Los Angeles (CA, USA) to explore how youth can help shape the future of global diplomacy, peacebuilding, and international cooperation. Participants (in-person and online) will engage in high-level panels, interactive workshops, and skill-building sessions focused on negotiation, conflict resolution, and advocacy.

The AASHE Conference & Expo 2026 will take place 4-6 October 2026, in Baltimore (Maryland, USA), bringing together sustainability leaders, educators, researchers, and practitioners from across higher education. The event serves as a major platform for sharing innovative practices, building partnerships, and advancing whole-institution approaches to sustainability on campus and beyond. The call for proposals is open now until 10 April 2026.

UNESCO has invited students and young people aged 18–35 to participate in the UNESCO Global Youth Survey on Mental Health in Times of Crisis. The survey will inform the first UNESCO Global Youth Outlook, providing insights into youth well-being, resilience, and the impacts of current global challenges. Responses from diverse regions are essential. The survey is available in multiple languages and remains open until 8 March 2026.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) invites contributions to a new compendium showcasing practical, evidence-based examples of ESD across the region. Submissions should demonstrate how ESD and the four priority strands of the UNECE ESD Strategy (quality education, whole-institution approaches, digital education, entrepreneurship) support progress on the SDGs under review in 2026 (SDG 6, 7, 9, 11, 17). Member States, institutions, organizations, youth groups, educators, and other stakeholders are encouraged to at any level. Submissions are accepted until end of 28 March 2026.

The (IAU) has launched the . Every four years, the survey examines progress and challenges across teaching, research, governance, and community engagement, and alignment with the SDGs.

By capturing global trends, regional perspectives, and innovative practices, the findings will provide a crucial evidence base for institutional strategies and policy development for the remaining years of the SDGs. Learn more about how your institution can take part (one response per institution) by 30 April 2026.

Have your voice heard for Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy 2026-2029 (FSDS). For the new FSDS 2026-2029, Canada seeks input from educators, researchers, institutions, youth, Indigenous partners, and other stakeholders on priorities, actions, and indicators that can strengthen sustainable development across the country. Feedback from diverse communities will help shape future federal policies and ensure the FSDS reflects diverse perspectives and evidence-based approaches to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient Canada. Participate on or before 12 May 2026.

A new self-paced online course from the Employment and Social Development Canada’s SDG Unit offers an accessible introduction to the 2030 Agenda with the 17 SDGs. While the course was originally designed for Canadian federal public servants, its content reflects key principles and learnings that are relevant to everyone. The course explores key global challenges, Canada’s commitment to the Agenda, and practical ways to integrate the SDGs into policies, programmes, and decision-making.

Applications are open for the International Green Gown Awards 2026, a major global recognition of sustainability leadership in higher education. The awards honour innovative initiatives that demonstrate how universities and colleges are advancing sustainable development through teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Open to institutions across the globe for applications on or before 10 April 2026, the programme highlights impactful practices and fosters international exchange on sustainability in tertiary education.

Explore practical tools for integrating the SDGs into teaching and learning through an innovative capacity-building platform developed by the Regional Centre of Expertise on ESD in Crete, Greece (). Designed for educators across disciplines, the platform offers ready-to-use resources, examples, and guidance to support curriculum development, innovative pedagogy, and whole-institution engagement with sustainability, in particular the SDGs.

There is a new podcast by the European University Association (EUA). The EUA launched Learning to Teach, a new that will explore how universities support academic staff in developing effective teaching practices. Through conversations with educators and experts across Europe, the series shares insights on professional development, innovative pedagogy, and institutional approaches that strengthen teaching and learning in higher education.

A new season of Awake at Night, the UN podcast, is now available. In this powerful series, humanitarian workers from around the world share personal, often untold stories from the front lines of displacement crises. Speaking in their own voices, they reflect on the moments that stay with them long after the cameras are gone and the headlines fade. The podcast offers a rare glimpse into the human side of humanitarian action.

Now available in two special issues from SAGE Journal of Education for Sustainable Development (JESD), a wide range of different perspectives highlight current scholarship on transforming education and policy developments in ESD. Together, these two special issues offer valuable insights into the current state of research with recommendations for the remaining years of the SDGs and a post-2030 agenda for researchers, educators, and policymakers.