On November 5, 2024, Centro Studi Casnati hosted the conference titled “Education and Sustainable Development: Building a Territorial Network to Create Value”, an event that brought together experts, institutions, and students with the goal of discussing and promoting sustainability in education and the community. It was a valuable opportunity for dialogue and future planning, moderated by Andrea Grieco, a science communicator specializing in Climate Change and Sustainability, with the participation of over 100 people, including key local and international stakeholders.
Each contribution highlighted different aspects of sustainability education, each with a unique yet complementary approach, helping to create a comprehensive picture of how the territory can build a network to address environmental challenges.
The Voices of the Protagonists
Carolina Galli, representing the Lombardy Region, opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of educating new generations through environmental education. She highlighted the fundamental role of schools in promoting sustainable behaviors and stressed the need to develop educational programs that raise awareness about caring for the territory.
Federica Quartesan, Chief Program Officer of Casnati for ESD, outlined the work carried out by Centro Studi Casnati in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). She connected educational action to the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4.7. Her presentation demonstrated how the Casnati for ESD project successfully created an ecosystem that connects schools, institutions, and local organizations.
Giuseppe Alfredo Bonelli, Director of the Territorial School Office of Como, illustrated the role of the education system in shaping young people not only from a technical perspective but also from a social and environmental one. He shared the UST’s experiences in supporting schools and projects such as Casnati for ESD and the newly established Territorial School Network for Environmental Education.
Francesco Pizzagalli, Vice President of Confindustria Como, shifted the focus to the importance of a sustainable vision for businesses, expressing how the skills developed through sustainability education can become crucial for the success of future enterprises. His perspective emphasized the need for a cultural shift that is reflected both in schools and in businesses.
Gianluca Leo, Councilor of the Province of Como, highlighted the growing commitment of local institutions in supporting young people’s ideas and projects, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and synergy between new generations, the workforce, and elected representatives.
Marco Ciceri, President of the Lambro Valley Regional Park, spoke about the importance of integrating education with territorial enhancement. The Park underscored the role of natural areas as sustainability laboratories, where schools can collaborate to create educational experiences that promote environmental awareness.
Roberto Rampi, Senator of the Italian Republic from 2018 to 2022, provided insights into how national and international policies are adapting to environmental and social needs, emphasizing education as a key tool to support the necessary transition. His remarks had a strong impact on the potential of legislators to influence the future of education and the environment.
Agostino Inguscio, Coordinator of the UNDP Rome Center, presented the UN’s initiatives for promoting climate action and the energy transition. His speech highlighted how international collaboration, together with local projects, can truly change the direction of global environmental policies.
Amanda Abrom, Director of the Global Schools Program (UN SDSN), provided an overview of international projects and best practices for integrating sustainability into education. She stressed the importance of creating a global network of schools to promote a culture of sustainability.
Nadia Paleari, Sustainability Strategist & Climate Policy Advisor, spoke about the creation of a cohesive community capable of ensuring a sustainable transition, emphasizing the importance of networking between schools, businesses, and institutions to implement local policies.
Francesca Faletto, Sustainability Specialist at AWorld, introduced new digital tools and sustainable applications (gamification) that schools and companies can use to raise awareness and actively engage in sustainability.
Sabina Rossi, representative of the Environmental Education Service of the Lambro Valley Regional Park, concluded the series of interventions by sharing the direct experiences of schools involved in the park’s initiatives and how these can serve as models for sustainability education.
Finally, Giacomo Di Capua, ESD consultant and Italian UN Youth Delegate 2023-24, closed the session by sharing his experience in environmental activism and policy. Di Capua discussed the importance of youth engagement in climate policies and the need to give new generations a voice in global decision-making, engaging in a panel discussion with students from the Quadriennale Language High School at Centro Studi Casnati.
The Workshop and the Creation of the ESD Manifesto
During the afternoon workshop, graphic designer Francesca Tabasso created the visual designs for the ESD Manifesto, making the concepts expressed by the working groups—where students and stakeholders engaged in direct dialogue—tangible. Her creativity visually shaped the narrative of a sustainable future that all participants contributed to building, marking a significant milestone for the Casnati for ESD project with the development of an initial “territorial values charter.”
Conclusions
The conference highlighted the importance of collaboration among all local stakeholders—schools, institutions, businesses, and international organizations—to create a network that supports education and action for sustainable development. Each contribution enriched the discussion, emphasizing a specific aspect of the change we aim to achieve: a cohesive, aware community ready to invest in the future.
This initiative, part of the Casnati for ESD project, was carried out “with the support of resources from Regione Lombardia through Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente.
The event was co-organized with the Global Schools Program and UN SDSN, under the patronage of Regione Lombardia, Parco Regionale della Valle del Lambro, Confindustria Como, Youth4Climate (an initiative of MASE and UNDP), Provincia di Como, and Ecosistema Formazione Italia, in collaboration with the Ufficio Scolastico Territoriale di Como.
#CasnatiforESD #wearecasnati