March 1st 2005 – “Welcome to the International Launch of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. This event marks the beginning of an initiative of great importance to all who care about education, human development, the natural environment, and the well-being of future generations,” said Professor Steven Rockefeller at the opening of the Expert Panel discussion that preceeded the Official international launch of the DESD. Some 160 participants filled Conference Room 6 at UN Headquarters to take part in a very lively and inspiring discussion on key issues in the implementation of the Decade: issues, challenges and opportunities; generating support and sustaining commitments to the Decade; linking Education for Sustainable Development into existing development frameworks (EFA, MDGs); identifying the roles and engagement of Governments, NGOs, civil society including the private sector; and monitoring and assessment of our efforts. The four panelists (Dr Pamela Puntenney of the CSD Education Caucus, Gunter Pauli of ZERI, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, Permanent Delegate of Greece to the UN, and Mary Joy Pigozzi, Director of the Division for the Promotion of Quality Education at UNESCO) and participants discussed and debated these issues for over two hours, highlighting in particular that Education for Sustainable Development is for everybody, that it concerns all institutions, that the Decade can focus fresh attention on the content and purpose of education and spark a much needed public debate on this critical issue in both the developed and developing worlds.

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