Envision 4.7: Transforming our societies through education
Bridge 47’s Envision 4.7 conference delivers a roadmap for the implementation of Target 4.7 of the SDGs in Europe, linking education with sustainable development
Last week, Bridge 47 hosted over 200 European policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives in Helsinki to create a roadmap for securing the political will to advance Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Europe.
Outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals aims to ensure that by 2030, all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote, among others, sustainable development, gender equality, human rights, and global citizenship through education.
Opening the conference, the Minister of Education of Finland Li Andersson says that “a core aspect of Finland’s EU Presidency is to try and steer Europe and its institutions to put in place mechanisms to achieve the sustainable development goals of the Agenda 2030”.
“Our Government Programme promises that Finland will be leading the way in solving humanity’s biggest challenges. Knowledge, skills, research, civil society and culture play a decisive role in the transition towards sustainability, and therefore we are working broadly to implement the Agenda 2030 under the branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture,” continued Andersson.
Target 4.7 is arguably one of the most important of the 169 targets included in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It is an underlying component of achieving each of the other goals and the transformative spirit of Agenda 2030, meaning a unified approach by all societal actors is required.
“A 'business-as-usual' mindset is insufficient to tackle many of the contemporary challenges that cross international borders. Not a single one of the SDGs can be achieved without Target 4.7',” says Rilli Lappalainen, Chair and Founder of Bridge 47 and Director of Advocacy at Finnish Development NGO Fingo. “In order to make sustainable development a reality and generate positive changes in society, we need European stakeholders across different sectors to come together and recognize the crucial role of Target 4.7 within the Sustainable Development Goals,” he continued.
The event was held by Bridge 47 together with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and Ministry for Foreign Affairs under the auspices of Finland’s Presidency of the EU Council. Finland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2019.
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For additional information:
Gillion Vaughn
+358 50 317 6692
gillion.vaughn@bridge47.org
Bridge 47 was created to bring people together to share and learn from each other. We mobilize civil society all around the world to do their part for global justice and eradication of poverty with the help of Global Citizenship Education. For more information, visit www.bridge47.org.
