Resources
Explore a wide range of valuable resources on GCED to deepen your understanding and enhance your research, advocacy, teaching, and learning.
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Developing Global Guidance for Child Rights Impact Assessments in Relation to the Digital Environment: Summary of Initial Project Findings Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) The age of technology and the Internet have brought tremendous benefits, including for children. However, the spread of digital technologies also comes with a broad spectrum of risks and harms to which children can be particularly vulnerable. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, businesses have a responsibility to identify, assess, and address relevant human rights risks, including risks to children’s rights. With respect to the digital environment, a rapidly evolving landscape and the emergence of new technologies has changed the nature and severity of actual and potential child rights risks relating to business activities. In response, UNICEF has initiated a project to assess the current child rights impact assessment (CRIA) landscape in relation to digital business activities and develop new guidance to support robust implementation going forward. A summary of initial project findings is now available here. Further project outputs including the updated guidance (currently under development) are anticipated in late 2024. 
Inter-Agency Policy Brief: Accelerating SDG Localization to Deliver on the Promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: United Nations Centre for Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat) | UN. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN. DESA) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) SDG localization is the process of adapting and customizing the SDGs and translating them into local development plans and strategies that fit the needs, context, and priorities of a particular region or locality, in coherence with national frameworks. It means placing local communities at the center of sustainable development and anchoring development action on the principles of inclusion, partnership, and multilevel governance, with adequate data and financing availability at the local level. This inter-agency policy brief examines the critical role of local and regional governments in accelerating achievement of the 2030 Agenda and provides policy recommendations to help advance the essential work of localizing SDG action. This policy brief was prepared by UNDESA, UN Habitat and UNDP in close collaboration with the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments and United Cities and Local Governments, with input from the United Nations Regional Commissions: UNECA, UNECE, UNECLAC, UNESCAP, and UNESCWA. 
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in Asia and the Pacific: The Pacific Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | UNESCO Bangkok | UNESCO Jakarta Global climate targets and the call to action from the Pacific must be heeded while major environmental, societal and economical progress is needed in the region. Leadership from Pacific Island Countries and Territories needs to be supported with action and resourcing to meet both global net zero goals and regional SDGs. This volume applies the water, energy, and food security nexus approach solely in a Pacific context for the first time, bringing together the region’s 17 countries and 7 Territories. This approach improves the security of each sector and supports regional climate and environmental priorities. Effective intersectoral solutions exist with connectivity between the water-food and water-energy sectors of particular benefit. Traditional knowledge and crop production have historically and will continue to play a major role in food security and water resources management in the region. Increased energy demand needs to be met with increased renewables installation as well as new technologies that encompass storage and transport considerations. 
Building Resilience Through Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Teacher Capacity-building for Sustainable Transformation of Education Systems Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are committed to improving the lives of young children. Despite the progress made so far in the Asia-Pacific region and being halfway to the target date of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, there are still significant gaps in fulfilling SDG Target 4.2: 'By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.' The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) has been advocating for SEL to fully become part of the ECCE system and supporting regional Member States in building teachers’ capacity to integrate SEL into children’s learning environments. With social skills and emotional intelligence taught in schools early, children will gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve personal and collective goals. This can positively contribute to society and transformative resilience through enhancing civic engagement. 
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Year of publication: 2024 Author: Daniel Innerarity Corporate author: UNESCO Montevideo | Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by all Member States in November 2021, is the first global policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) and outlines different aspects of this technology that directly impact political life. The initial considerations of the Recommendation outline the potential ramifications of AI across diverse domains, notably its implications for democracy. This report builds on these analyses and recommendations, aligning with the core values and principles outlined in the Recommendation. It delves into the current and potential impact of artificial intelligence on democracy and the benefits that both artificial intelligence and digitalization, in general, could bring to enhancing collective decision-making processes. This analysis is structured around four key topics:1. The democratic expectations and disappointments of digitization2. The new digital public space: the democratic conversation3. The democracy of data: the politics of Big Data4. Democracy as a form of political decision-making: algorithmic governance Finally, this report offers recommendations for the democratic governance of artificial intelligence aimed at mitigating neative impacts and fostering a more democratic approach to AI governance. 
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instruments for the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Outlook Year of publication: 2024 Author: Galindo Moreno | Manuel Ricardo Corporate author: UNESCO This publication explores the design, implementation and impact of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy instruments across regions, revealing diverse policy priorities and support strategies. Data from the UNESCO Global Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instruments (GO-SPIN) platform shows that STI policy instruments are closely linked to the SDGs, particularly with SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 4 (quality education). Over three-quarters of these policy instruments target these goals. This publication advocates for the use of evidence in designing policies and policy instruments and underscores the importance of continuous monitoring of their implementation. Additionally, it recommends diversifying funding sources, enhancing program management, fostering communication with stakeholders, and applying policy instruments to promote transformative learning. 
Climate Change and Sustainability in Science and Social Science Secondary School Curricula Year of publication: 2024 Author: Marcia McKenzie | Aaron Benavot Corporate author: UNESCO There is an urgent need to transform the way climate change and sustainability are taught in classrooms and at schools. Learners must grasp the environmental impacts of climate change, how climate change relates to their own context and what actions can be undertaken and contribute to making societies more sustainable, equitable, just and climate-resilient. The findings presented in this publication indicate that accelerated efforts are needed. In a study of over 530 Grade 9 science and social science curricula from 85 countries worldwide, we found that 69 per cent of curricula contained no references to climate change, while 66 per cent had no references to sustainability. Furthermore, while 69 per cent of surveyed teachers from eight of the countries studied reported that environment, sustainability and climate change topics were included in the science and social science curricula in their schools only 50 per cent included them in their teaching. While there is a notable inclusion of environment, sustainability and climate change in science and social science curricula across countries, the depth of focus of this inclusion varies widely. Cognitive learning prevails over social and emotional or action-oriented learning. Climate change and sustainability in school practices must be strengthened, with teachers playing a key role in enhancing integration through teaching methods and materials. 
Empowering Students for Just Societies: A Handbook to Teach Integrity in Secondary Schools Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | UN. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) The importance of education lies in its power to shape the values of upcoming generations and equip them with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Contemporary challenges, including corruption must be addressed through education, transparency, accountability and the rule of law, among other efforts. This joint publication by UNODC and UNESCO is a response to this important issue. It is aimed at educators who are striving to inspire and prepare future generations to actively contribute to societies grounded in integrity, ethics and respect for the rule of law. The handbook builds on the first two launched in 2019. This publication highlights the transformative power of education in strengthening the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for addressing global challenges, especially those that stem from a lack of integrity, like corruption. It underlines the crucial role education plays in nurturing critical thinking, empathy, ethical behaviour, and a commitment to justice and equality among people. The handbook presents a catalogue of educational activities, lesson plans and outside the classroom resources designed to empower youth to reject corrupt practices and become agents of change, promoting integrity and upholding democratic values. 
Ensuring Well-Being through Social-Emotional Learning in the Digital World Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) This document aims to identify the important elements addressed during the various TAGe discussions (social media discussion and live event) in addition to offering key recommendations for decision-makers. Concretely, this document has sought to highlight two social and emotional challenges faced today by youth, with a third issue present in each of them –(1) educational and employment disparities (economic exclusion),(2) poor civic engagement, and(3) the impact of the digital divide and misuse of social media platforms– in addition to showing how SEL competencies can be a tool to address the social and emotional challenges that may be encountered, supported by technological tools. 
Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights, International Understanding, Cooperation, Fundamental Freedoms, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO Building more peaceful, just, and sustainable societies starts with education. It influences all aspects of our daily lives and our overall prospects while being impacted by our health and environment. In the global landscape of worsening climate change, democratic backsliding, persistent inequalities, rising discrimination, hate speech, violence and conflict, it can be a tool to address and prevent these problems in the future. And it can also be a long-term investment with increasing returns if shaped and deployed effectively. The new UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights, International Understanding, Cooperation, Fundamental Freedoms, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development, which is commonly referred to as the Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development is a landmark guidance document that defines what needs to evolve in and through education to accomplish these goals.