ESD for 2030: The Future Depends on Us!

The United Nations has established a new decade, beginning in 2020, focused on the power of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). “ESD for 2030” calls for educators to help advance new skills, empower youth, increase public awareness, and build community partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Kim Smith, Portland Community College Sociology Instructor and co-founder of the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN), will highlight sustainability projects around the world, UNESCO’s ESD vision, and how we can all help create a sustainable future.

Presenter Dr. Kim Smith received her B.A. in Sociology from Whitman College and her Ph.D. in sociology from Indiana University, specializing in environmental sociology and social movements. She has taught sociology and served in a variety of administrative roles at Portland Community College (PCC) since 1996. She is the co-founder of the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN), a UNU Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, and works with many non-profits. She has represented the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the US Partnership for ESD, and United Nations University at multiple international conferences, including Rio+20 and the UNESCO World Summit on ESD, and served on AASHE’s Board of Directors from 2014-2017. She is committed to offering hope for a sustainable future through education, professional development, and civic engagement.

Check out the recording here.