A Review of education for sustainable development policies from a cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue perspective: identifying opportunities for future action

This review highlights the striking absence of culture in ESD, a gap also acknowledged by participants at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development held in Bonn, Germany, from 31 March to 2 April 2009. The final declaration emphasizes that ESD is about 'creative and critical approaches, long-term thinking, innovation and empowerment for dealing with uncertainty', and for solving complex problems, highlighting in particular the interdependence of environment, economy, society, and cultural diversity from local to global levels. The review and its methodology provide an instructive example of ways to articulate the linkages between cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and ESD, required for a sustainable future.