The Time is Now: New Roadmap Urges Pan-European Action on SDG 4.7

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Global Citizenship Education practitioners, politicians, academics, Civil Society Organisations and Local Authority representatives are calling on European institutions to take the lead in delivering SDG 4.7.  They have published a series of policy recommendations, or “Roadmap” for pan-European action now available online.

Some 200 global education specialists and practitioners from 54 countries gathered at the Envision 4.7 event in Helsinki earlier this month. Together they produced the Envision 4.7 Roadmap and published by Bridge 47, which receives support from the European Commission’s Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme.

While Europe has lots of great examples and experience in using Global Citizenship Education for sustainable development, there has been no holistic European action towards delivering on the commitments of SDG 4.7 – something Rilli Lappalainen, Director for Policy and Advocacy at the Finnish NGO network FINGO and Chair of Bridge 47, wants to see changed.

“Europe has not done anything collectively to promote SDG 4.7,” said Rilli Lappalainen, “We want to get attention that Europe really has a role to play,” adding “if we can get things happening in Europe, it really has a multiplier effect on other regions as well.”

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the first time acknowledged the importance of learning throughout the life cycle as an essential means of delivering sustainable development. If global commitments on climate change, poverty and inequality are to be achieved, countries throughout the world need engaged and informed citizens.

However, stating the value of Global Citizenship Education is not enough and urgent action is needed if the target is to be met, according to Envision 4.7 participants.

“We call on the European Union, Council of Europe and European countries to be forerunners in adopting and implementing policies,” states the Envision 4.7 Roadmap, “Actions to reach SDG Target 4.7 are fundamental to achieving the SDGs,” it reads.

The Roadmap for the Implementation of SDG 4.7 is made up of six areas, which look at:

1 Transformative Education

2 The value of life-long learning

3 Cross-sector co-operation

4 Indicators

5 Competencies

6 Resources

The full document is available here. 

The Roadmap has already received verbal support from representatives of European Member States, including Finland, Slovenia and Ireland. Bridge 47 is seeking to broaden support for the Roadmap and are urging global citizenship education practitioners and organisations to coalesce around the six areas for action.

“Transformative education is pivotal for democracy and evidence based decisions,” said Li Andersson, Finland’s Minister for Education and opening speaker for the Envision 4.7 event in Helsinki. “Learning in schools alone is not going to be enough to face tomorrow’s challenges.”

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DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by the DEAR Support Team to provide information about a project that receives European Commission support via the DEAR Programme. The article should not be interpreted as the official view of the Commission, or any other organisation.