"Education and Sustainable Development: Building a Territorial Network to Create Value". This was the title and goal of the event organized on November 5th by Centro Studi Casnati, which saw the participation of teachers, students, representatives from the Province of Como, the Lombardy Region, and Confindustria Como, as well as international institutions such as UNDP – Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition and the Global Schools Program of the UN SDSN.
This significant event concluded with the publication of the Manifesto for Sustainable Education, effectively designating the Como-based institute as a reference point for other educational institutions at both regional and national levels in the field of sustainable education.
"Two years ago, our Institute adopted the ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) program, which aligns with Goal 4.7 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, and today we are beginning to see the results," commented Federica Quartesan, Chief Program Officer for Casnati ESD and Global School Advocate & Mentor for the United Nations SDSN.
School as a Starting Point
Now more than ever, we feel the urgency to create a new path that can transform the uncertainties of the near future into new opportunities for growth and development. The school serves as the foundation of this important journey, as it is the place where awareness and consciousness of tomorrow’s citizens are shaped.
"This is a great challenge that can only be won through networking, that is, by sharing goals and strategies with other key players in the region: institutions, businesses, and society," emphasized Quartesan during the meeting. Creating a network means “building a community for a more equitable future for all,” added Nadia Paleari, Sustainability Strategist & Climate Policy Advisor and UNCTAD Youth EU Climate Pact Ambassador.
"After all, without culture, there can be no change," said Francesco Pizzagalli, Vice President of Confindustria Como with a mandate for sustainability. "In an increasingly complex world, tomorrow’s citizens and workers need not only technical skills but also the vision and ability to share ideas, courage—which means putting heart into what one does—and hope, a fundamental element that helps give meaning to our daily actions." These soft skills, increasingly sought after by companies, can be developed through targeted educational programs.
Beyond the Environment
Sustainability is not just about respecting the natural world around us but also about caring for society, people, and the local area. "Young people are the key to finding effective solutions to major challenges, not only in the environmental field," highlighted Giuseppe Alfredo Bonelli, Director of the Territorial School Office of Como and Head of Educational Policies and Student Affairs at the Regional School Office of Lombardy.
"This is why connections are so important," added Gianluca Leo, Councillor of the Province of Como, focusing on developing a network of youth councils. This project is open to youth associations and individuals to create space for solutions to the challenges the younger generation faces and to raise awareness about sustainability.
"Participation is the key word for truly making a difference," observed Marco Ciceri, Regional President of Parco Valle del Lambro, which is highly active in environmental education through a rich program of courses and activities. "We need to educate to learn, but also the other way around: learn to educate." And in this, networking can be compelling.
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