Four RCE Severn projects were selected for funding through the University of Gloucestershire’s professional support programme, Learning Innovation for Tomorrow (LIFT) for 2018. The LIFT programme aims to support new innovations in learning and in turn bring transformative, futures-oriented learning into the curriculum. In addition, it connects students’ learning with the community to advance shared sustainability goals.

The first youth-led Asia-Pacific SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Challenge, supported by the RCE network, commenced in February with 30 youth-led projects submitted across 12 RCEs, as well as three ESD-related projects from UNESCO.

During the challenge, youth across the globe will focus on SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life Below Water to mobilise on-ground activities in their local region.

Photos: RCE Jammu

RCE Jammu, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools Coordination Committee (JKPSCC), organised the 2^nd Annual State Level Conference on 21 January, 2018 in Jammu, India, focusing on the theme, the “Role of Private Schools in Education for Sustainable Development”.

Bringing together 35 RCEs from 22 countries, the ‘First RCE Thematic Conference: Towards Achieving the SDGs’ was held in Okayama, Japan from 5-7 December, 2017.

Led by the Asia-Pacific Regional Youth Leaders, the first Asia-Pacific SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Challenge will be held in February 2018, focusing on SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life Below Water. All Asia-Pacific Youth Focal Points are encouraged to participate, and in turn to lead the mobilisation of on-the-ground activities in their local region.

Education Day at COP23 was held on 16 November 2017 in Bonn, Germany, bringing together participants to discuss the critical role of education, both in developing strategies to combat climate change as well as efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event included a series of activities showcasing climate education around the world, in addition to a high-level event on climate education, ‘Uniting for Climate Education’ and an Award Ceremony for the ‘Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change’.

Photo: RCE Greater Dhaka

RCE Greater Dhaka held their Annual Meeting for 2017 at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) campus on 27 November, 2017.

Among the participants were Mr. Md. Monjur Hossain, Secretary, Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU), as the Chief Guest and Mrs. Sun Lei, Education Programme Specialist of UNESCO, Dhaka as the Guest of Honour.

Photos: RCE New Delhi

On 28 November, 2017, the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It affirms ESD as ‘a vital means of implementation for sustainable development’, and calls to ‘scale up education for sustainable action through implementation of the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development’, highlighting UNESCO's role in leading and coordinating the Education 2030 Agenda, through the SDG Education 2030 Steering Committee.