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Welcome to the June 2026 edition of the 91��ɫ UNESCO Chair Newsletter!

World Environment Day is on 5 June 🌍! While we continue to emphasize regularly that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is not limited to environmental themes but also relevant for economic and social dimensions of sustainability, World Environment Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how education can respond to today's interconnected challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. ESD is the central enabler of the knowledge, competencies, values, and agency needed to support more sustainable and inclusive futures.

This month's newsletter highlights collaboration across institutions, sectors, and regions. Thank you for staying connected, for your continued contributions to advancing ESD, and now beginning to think about #EducationBeyond2030 and #ESDBeyond2030.

Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl
UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, 91��ɫ

Under the theme Educators at the Heart of Climate Action: World Environment Day, the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership will invite the global community for a on future-proofing people and communities through greening on 5 June 2026 at 8am ET / 2pm CET.

📅 5 June 2026 🕗 8am ET | 2pm CET

📅 17 June 2026 🕗 8am ET | 2pm CET

Join this ANGEL and GENE Research to Policy Series on 17 June 2026 at 8am ET / 2pm CET to explore how local and regional governments, educators, and community partners can use global citizenship education to strengthen democratic participation and rebuild trust in public institutions. The session will showcase practical examples from across Europe and discuss how global citizenship education supports critical thinking, inclusive dialogue, civic engagement, and collective action.

The Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026 will from 22-25 June 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The congress brings together leaders from higher education, government, business, and civil society to advance collaboration and action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event will mark the inaugural presentation of the new Times Higher Education . This will also be one of the first opportunities to discuss ideas for a world beyond 2030.

The track with the heart ❤️ is back. Join us for meaningful conversations, community, and new ideas! Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl will again moderate the track on Education, Gender, and Inequality, contributing to discussions on the role of education in addressing systemic challenges and advancing more inclusive and sustainable futures.

📅 22-25 June 2026 🕗 all day

📅 23 June 2026 🕗 7am ET | 1pm CET

Join the global online launch of the Sustainable Development Report 2026 on 23 June 2026 at 7am ET / 1pm CET. Hosted by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the will present the latest findings from the SDG Index and Dashboards, assessing progress across all UN Member States. The launch will include a presentation of the report's findings followed by a high-level panel discussion with policymakers and experts.

Organized by Copernicus Alliance and partners in Bordeaux, France, on 26-28 August 2026, the 2026 Higher Education Summit under the theme Unleashing Transformative and Decolonised Education for Sustainability in a Globalised World will an international audience of students, educators and changemakers. The draft programme is available on the conference website featuring keynotes, paper presentations, workshops, and more. Registrations are open now.

📅 26-28 August 2026 🕗 all day

Taking place from 26-28 August 2026 in Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines, this international conference will bring together psychologists, counsellors, social workers, health practitioners, researchers, students, and community leaders to explore innovative approaches to mental health and well-being.

Through keynote presentations, research sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will examine how collaboration across sectors can contribute to healthier and more sustainable communities. The conference aligns with the SDGs and highlights community-based, educational, and policy-oriented approaches to well-being.

📅 26-28 August 2026 🕗 all day

📅 8-11 September 2026 🕗 all day

The influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in education continues to escalate. Under the theme Facts. Frictions. Frontiers. Education in the age of AI, to be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from 8-11 September 2026 will examine what counts as fact in an age of synthetic knowledge, how to navigate the frictions AI is generating across education systems, and what new frontiers are emerging. The event will support collective sense-making and action to ensure that human agency, equity and the public purpose of education remain at the centre of education futures.

Registration is for the sixth Academic Network on Global Education & Learning (ANGEL) Conference, in partnership with the University of Bologna, to be held in Bologna, Italy, on 10-11 September 2026. The conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore current research and policy developments in global education and learning. The gathering provides a valuable platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas across disciplines and sectors. Further information is available on the .

📅 10-11 September 2026 🕗 all day

📅 3-6 November 2026 🕗 all day

Registration is now for the 17^th General Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU). The conference will take place on 3-6 November 2026 in Perth, Western Australia, and feature a dynamic program exploring emerging trends, such as Artificial Intelligence, in higher education.

The Climate-U Network International Conference 2026 will in Suva, Fiji, from 23-27 November 2026, bringing together the community to explore the role of higher education in addressing the climate crisis. The conference features discussions on climate justice, Indigenous knowledge, climate-smart education systems, sustainable campuses, community partnerships, and transdisciplinary approaches to climate action.

📅 23-27 November 2026 🕗 all day

📅 1 December 2026 🕗 all day

On 1 December 2026, TEESNet will hold their , exploring the theme Radical Hope in Education in Liverpool, UK. In a time marked by complexity, uncertainty, and multiple global challenges, the conference will examine how education can remain a force for positive change, solidarity, and renewal. Building on UNESCO's call to strengthen and learn from existing positive efforts, educators, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from the UK and beyond are encouraged to submit proposals on or before 20 July 2026.

UNESCO and the Government of Kenya will convene the next World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Nairobi, Kenya, on 13-15 January 2027. The conference will bring together policymakers, educators, researchers, youth, and partners from around the world to reflect on progress, share emerging practices, and help shape the future direction of ESD beyond 2030.

The conference is expected to provide an important global platform for dialogue on the role of education in addressing sustainability challenges and supporting more just, inclusive, and resilient futures.

📅 13-15 January 2027 🕗 all day

More than 50 higher education leaders, researchers, and sustainability experts from around the world in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia, for the 2026 IAU Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Cluster Workshop. Discussions focused on the role of universities in advancing the SDGs, fostering innovation, and supporting whole-institution approaches to sustainability. The workshop highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration and collective action as higher education looks ahead to what comes beyond 2030.

EduVerse invites contributions for its upcoming special edition: Student-Centeredness in Motion: Agency, Identity, and the Learner Within. The how educators can support learner agency, identity formation, and meaningful learning experiences in a rapidly changing world. Practical reflections, classroom examples, and innovative approaches are welcome. Submission deadline: 5 June 2026. Selected articles will be published on 15 July 2026.

📅 5 June 2026

📅 20 September 2026

What should education look like after 2030? UNESCO wants to hear from young people and officially launched global youth and student to co-design the #EducationBeyond2030 Agenda.

If you are between 11 and 30, do not let others decide your future but get involved and have your voice heard.

UNESCO’s first highlights both significant progress and persistent challenges in higher education worldwide. Student enrolment has grown from around 100 million in 2000 to 269 million in 2024, while international student mobility has more than tripled. Yet major inequalities remain, with substantial differences in access, completion, and participation across regions and population groups. The report offers important insights into the future of higher education and the actions needed to strengthen equity and inclusion globally.

The Global Schools Program has launched of its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Guide, showcasing the experiences of nearly 30 Global Schools Advocate Alumni. The publication highlights practical examples of how ESD has been integrated into primary and secondary education through curriculum, school activities, and whole-school approaches.

It also shares implementation strategies, lessons learned, and insights for educators seeking to strengthen sustainability learning in their own contexts.

The marks the first in the Countdown to 2030 Series. The report highlights a persistent gap between ambition and progress. While enrolment has increased significantly over the past decades, 273 million children and youth remain out of school, with universal secondary completion still far beyond current timelines. The findings point to the need for context-specific approaches and nationally defined targets to advance progress on SDG 4.

The latest issue of Lehren & Lernen explores the theme Verliebt ins Gelingen ("In Love with What Works") and on ESD and its own transformative process as a policy concept written by UNESCO Co-Chair Katrin Kohl. The article also addresses ESD importance in helping learners navigate complexity, uncertainty, and societal change, while highlighting its relevance across educational settings.

Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) has released a new report synthesizing from seven knowledge mobilization sessions held across Canada following its 2025 national survey, From Awareness to Action: Canadians on Climate Change and Education. The report explores what is working in climate change education, identifies key challenges, and highlights opportunities for action in policy, practice, and learning.