The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli participated in the World Online Conference "Education for Sustainable Development" organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The conference, which focused on climate change and biodiversity, was opened by UNESCO Director-General - Audrey Azoulay and addressed the challenges facing governments and people around the world. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the challenges facing global communities.

In his speech, Mikheil Chkhenkeli focused on the role of education in the context of the climate crisis. He noted that our knowledge of the climate crisis should be based on scientific research. Understanding the importance of education as a powerful lever for sustainable development was also facilitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which transcended the boundaries of the health crisis and took on a more global character.

The Minister stressed that Georgia has fully adapted its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to its national needs. Accordingly, the 2030 Global Agenda is part of Georgia 's domestic policy.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “The Ministry of Education and Science carries out its activities in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. All of this serves the ultimate goal of providing students with necessary skills and values ​​that will contribute to the development of a sustainable society. "Our goal is to create an education system that increases the sense of responsibility of citizens, encourages scientific research and overcomes various global or local challenges based on knowledge and evidence."

Furthermore, in his speech, the Minister spoke about the importance of joint efforts at the local and international levels. Mikheil Chkhenkeli noted that if we consider the pandemic as an opportunity, we will become stronger and more innovative and thus accelerate the progress of education, and the development of science. According to him, it is a healthy planet that allows us to enjoy basic human rights.

Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, President of the French Constitutional Council, representatives of the European Space Agency and various UNESCO representatives from around the world also attended the online conference.