27 June 2024, Limassol, Cyprus – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) actively participated and contributed to the MED-9 Ministerial Summit on “Education for Sustainable Development & Green Transition in the Mediterranean Region”. The Summit gathered more than 450 delegates from 45 countries. Hon. Andreas Pasiourtides, Head of the Delegation of Cyprus to PAM, represented the Assembly and delivered his remarks during the session “Education for Sustainable Development – ESD in the Mediterranean,” which brought together key stakeholders and policymakers.
The Summit highlighted the critical role of education in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on SDG 4, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education. The session addressed the urgent need to incorporate climate change and sustainable development principles into national education systems, as today nearly half of the world’s educational university and high-school curricula lack reference to climate issues, according to UNESCO. The MED-9 Ministerial Summit underscored once again the Mediterranean’s status as a “Climate Change Hotspot” and the necessity for coordinated educational strategies to address this challenge.
In his address, Hon. Pasiourtides emphasized PAM’s commitment to bridging this educational gap through several concrete initiatives. He highlighted the Assembly’s efforts, including the establishment of the PAM Academic Platform already in 2014, which fosters dialogue and regional cooperation among parliamentarians, scholars, and researchers.
He also recalled PAM’s role, as Member of the UN Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development, in the current process of revision of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD), which will have to further stress the importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in regional education systems.
Finally, Hon. Pasiourtides announced PAM’s forthcoming cooperation agreement with the UNESCO Italian Chairs, aimed at reinforcing joint efforts on SDGs in the Euro-Med and Gulf regions.
In his intervention, Professor Michael Scoullos, Chair of the MED-9 session, pointed out the important role of parliamentarians in driving the educational and legislative changes necessary for sustainable development. He emphasized that parliamentarians are crucial in implementing policies that support climate education and sustainability, underscoring the collaborative efforts needed across all sectors.
Looking ahead, PAM expressed its commitment to continue working with the MED-9 participants and other stakeholders to prioritize ESD. The Assembly invited attendees to further discussions on this topic at the upcoming II Edition of the PAM Marrakesh Economic Parliamentary Forum, on 11-12 July, where a dedicated session will explore the contributions of higher education and research networks to regional sustainable development.
PAM reiterated its dedication to fostering collaboration and implementing concrete actions that promote sustainable development across the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, leveraging education as a pivotal tool for achieving long-term environmental and socio-economic goals. //