UN hails East Midlands - as the first UK region that’s learning to be more sustainable

8th March 2007

The UN has led the world in promoting sustainable development and now, as part of a 10 year programme, it acknowledges the vital role of regions in helping everyone learn to be more sustainable. The East Midlands has just become the first UK region to be approved by the UN University and UNESCO as a region with expertise in education for sustainable development. The partnership of nearly 40 East Midlands organisations, including key support from the Government Office for the East Midlands and the East Midlands Development Agency, has just been acknowledged as the first UK Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE). Professor Hans van Ginkel, Rector of the United Nations University, based in Japan, recently awarded the formal certificate to the RCE East Midlands. There are only 34 other Regional Centres of Expertise (RCEs) around the world and the East Midlands region is set to join this group.

The RCE East Midlands Group will research and promote education for sustainable development and global citizenship in schools, colleges, universities as well as in youth, community and business education.