Drivers and Barriers to Implementing ESD with Focus on UNESCO's Action and Strategy Goals for the Second Half of the Decade

摘要

Drivers and barriers to implementing ESD had already been surveyed (in 2000) prior to the designated 'Decade,' and we continue here with an interim survey on barriers in general with a special focus on UNESCO's Action Goals (2009) for the 2nd half of the Decade, in order to overcome the existing deficiencies in implementing ESD. However these goals as well as UNESCO's Strategy Goals since 2010 have lacked a prioritized ranking and thus a targeted strategy. The analysis of the surveyed Action Goals presented here, conducted by international experts in 2009, classifies UNESCO's goals as perceived as likely to be realized satisfactorily, nearly satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily, concerning the possible extent of successful implementation by 2014 and taking national peculiarities into account. Thus the results may serve to put the focus on suitable activities and support the stakeholders' efforts to implement ESD through the gained insights, e.g., by coping with unsatisfactory results, such as lack of adequate resources or public awareness-raising, the need to train business leaders, gender equality issues, promoting the role and the contribution of the media in fostering public awareness and understanding of sustainability issues, etc. On the other hand, the analysis revealed drivers which can decisively support activities towards ESD, including ESD networking, involving NGOs and development partners to integrate ESD, implementing ESD policies through scientific communities, engaging the commitment, solidarity and potential of youth, etc. Applying this specific knowledge of drivers and barriers - integratively in a synergetic and reinforcing strategy - will serve as a framework for appropriate activities towards the end of the Decade and beyond. The survey was designed and conducted by a non-governmental German-Japanese Cooperation Project on DESD.