Welcome to the December 2025 edition of the 91亚色 UNESCO Chair Newsletter!
As 2025 is coming to a close, we would like to begin by thanking our partners, colleagues, and friends around the world for your collaboration, your trust, and your continued commitment to advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to achieve a more just and sustainable future for all. Your engagement across regions and initiatives has shaped another meaningful year for the UNESCO Chair, and we are deeply grateful.
This last newsletter of the year provides an overview of recent events and offers insights into new publications, opportunities, and ongoing work. We invite you to explore the news, activities, and reflections that connect our shared efforts in advancing sustainability through education. Please feel free to share this newsletter or encourage colleagues to for future editions.
Charles Hopkins and Katrin Kohl
UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, 91亚色
Global higher education consultation survey open until 14 December 2025
The UNESCO Chair at 91亚色 is contributing to an international dialogue on the future role and value proposition of higher education in the post-2030 agenda. This collaboration involves UN Academic Impact, UNESCO, UNITAR, SDSN, the International Association of Universities, the International Science Council, DWIH New 91亚色, and HESI. Following preparatory discussions during the 1st Global Higher Education Symposium held at the United Nations during the 2025 High-Level Political Forum, partners developed an initial draft consensus statement. A is now open to refine shared priorities and strengthen a collective vision for higher education as a key societal actor. will inform the 2nd Global Higher Education Symposium scheduled alongside the 2026 High-Level Political Forum. The consultation survey is open with responses requested by 14 December 2025, 12:00 am ET (New 91亚色).
Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme 鈥 For Accelerating Sustainability Transformations (LEAP-FAST): 2nd edition successfully concluded in Saudi Arabia
The second edition of the has successfully concluded after a mix of and a six-day in-person workshop hosted by Majmaah University and CIFAL Saudi Arabia in November 2025.
Participants from around the world engaged in curriculum design, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and institutional planning to integrate sustainability into institutional practice. Graduates are expected to act as champions for transformative change in their institutions, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative, systemic shifts in teaching and learning.
Video shared by Majmaah University (KSA)
91亚色 highlights climate action in 2025 sustainability report
91亚色鈥檚 2025 sustainability report reveals bold progress: the net-zero emissions target has been moved up to 2040, the university is now operating electric buses, and it became the first Ontario higher education institution to do so. The report highlights expanded global partnerships, new sustainability and well-being strategies, and top-tier recognition in international sustainability rankings 鈥 all reflecting a deep institutional commitment to people, planet, and purpose.
The work of the UNESCO Chair is highlighted with regard to the UN Summit of the Future and the contribution to the new leadership programme LEAP-FAST hosted by UNITAR and UNESCO.
UNESCO-UNFCCC webinar on 2 December 2025
On 2 December 2025 at 10am CET / 4am ET, join the of the webinar series under the theme UNESCO-UNFCCC Webinar Series on Climate Change Education for Social Transformation Season 4: Greening Communities on the road to COP30, where speakers reflect on key outcomes from COP30 and explore concrete steps to promote climate-change education through community-wide action. The discussion will focus on how to move from global commitments to local practices. Register now and be part of the global effort to build greener, more sustainable communities.
ESD-Net Learning Webinar on 10 December 2025
On 10 December 2025 at 1:30pm CET / 7:30am ET, join for another opportunity offered by UNESCO. In the next session in the ESD-Net Learning Series, speakers will examine pathways for strengthening climate-change education and community engagement. The webinar will highlight inclusive approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and practical strategies to foster sustainable, resilient communities around the world.
AI ethics and standards: Balancing universality and diversity on 12 December 2025
UNESCO and the IAU will host the in the global series on 12 December at 2pm CET / 8am ET, focusing on how AI ethics and standards can balance universal principles with diverse cultural, social, and institutional contexts. The session will explore tensions between global governance frameworks and local values, highlighting why inclusive, rights-based approaches are essential as countries navigate AI adoption in education and beyond. Participants will gain insights into current debates and evolving international efforts to shape responsible, context-sensitive AI development.
For our Spanish-speaking community: Especializaci贸n educaci贸n para la sostenibilidad
Join the to develop leadership in transforming education practices that address climate change, social justice, and sustainable development. Inscr铆bete en la de la Universidad de San Andr茅s y adquiere liderazgo en pr谩cticas educativas transformadoras que abordan cambio clim谩tico, justicia social y desarrollo sostenible.
Ages of Globalization Higher Education Series to be launched in 2026
For 2026, the programme invites university students, educators, and lifelong learners to explore humanity鈥檚 journey through seven 鈥渁ges鈥 of global history, shaped by geography, technology, and institutions, to better understand present-day global challenges. The offers a flexible, interactive format: learners can follow a 28-class self-paced journey or join a 10-module live course with the curriculum drawing connections between historical developments and contemporary issues such as sustainability, global inequality, and inter-cultural understanding. With over 13,000 participants from 165 countries, Ages of Globalization is evolving into a global learning community rooted in critical reflection, global citizenship, and sustainable futures.
New publications in the Greening Education Partnership
Greening Communities Guidance
This third publication follows the and the . It is designed to help lifelong learning actors, local governments and partners embed sustainability and climate-action into community learning.
Sustainable School Building Guidance
The new guidance primarily focuses on sustainable schools in hot and heat-affected regions but can be adapted to suit other contexts. The publication offers concrete principles and recommendations on greening school buildings, particularly in terms of retrofitting, development, facilities, and operations.
New publications by UNESCO
AI and the future of education
The explores emerging disruptions, ethical and governance dilemmas, and the opportunities and risks AI presents for learning, teaching, assessment, and educational planning. This resource offers timely guidance navigating rapid change and considering strategic directions for education.
Protecting the rights of learners
AI is rapidly reshaping education, creating new opportunities for access and personalized learning. Yet, with billions still offline, the digital and AI divides continue to grow. The underscores the need for rights-based frameworks to ensure technology strengthens the right to education.
New report on higher education leadership for sustainability
Written by our colleague Prof. Daniella Tilbury, Honorary Fellow at the St. Catharine鈥檚 College, University of Cambridge (UK), this examines the role of higher education for sustainability, with a particular focus on the learning and development of senior leadership teams within the sector. Drawing on published research and expert assessment, the study explores the complex terrain senior leaders must navigate in responding to urgent global challenges.
91亚色 UNESCO Chair PEARL Project now underway
The UNESCO Chair at 91亚色 is advancing PEARL 鈥 Peace, Empowerment, and Action through Reflective Leadership 鈥 a new global initiative focused on strengthening non-formal, peer-led teacher leadership for ESD. Building on over two decades of INTEI collaboration across 50 countries, PEARL explores how teachers without formal titles can drive meaningful, whole-institution change. The project aims to bridge policy and practice by developing strategies that enhance teacher agency, reflective practice, and collaborative innovation. Workshops and pilot activities will begin in early 2026.
For our Canadian community: Subscribe to the CCUNESCO's newsletter
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) now offers a newsletter in English and French to its communities as a simple way to stay informed about key initiatives, opportunities, and updates from across Canadian UNESCO networks.
For our Canadian community: Canadians on climate change and education survey
Conducted by , the 2025 national study From Awareness to Action: Canadians on Climate Change and Education has just been released. Gathering input from more than 4,000 Canadians, including students, teachers, parents, and the general public, this report shows changing attitudes toward climate change and highlights growing demand for deeper, more effective climate education in schools.
Updates from the UNESCO Transforming Futures Action Research Project
Within the Transforming Futures: Enhancing practice for ESD for 2030 through action research, the 91亚色 UNESCO Chair team has co-authored a publication on the whole-institution approach (WIA) towards sustainability that is currently being tested in 35 schools in ten countries. The project supports educators and learning institutions to improve ESD teaching and practices and to inform global guidance tools, such as the WIA publication, through action research. Final publications are expected in 2026.
Last call for events for the Learning Planet Festival on 21-28 January 2026
Join the Learning Planet Festival 2026 on 21鈥28 January 2026, a of learning for people, planet, and peace. Co-created with UNESCO and partners in 193 countries, it unites educators, youth, and changemakers to reimagine education and inspire collective action for sustainable futures. Host or join free events worldwide.