Proposed thematic programme on water education within the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014)

Water education is a very important component of UNESCO’s overall effort in water, including within the International Hydrological Programme. The UNESCO Executive Board has called for a UNESCO-wide strategy for water education at all levels. This document reviews the evolution of water education within UNESCO, and draws attention to the Draft Action Plan for the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), which includes 12 Thematic Programmes one of which would be devoted to “Education for Sustainable Water Management”. The IHP would be expected to play an important role in such a UNESCO-wide effort for water education.