The University for Peace (UPEACE) is a global academic institution established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/35/55 of 1980. It was established as an international entity with functional and financial autonomy. Its mandate and mission is to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace, with the aim of promoting a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among human beings, stimulating cooperation among peoples, and helping to overcome obstacles and prevent threats to world peace and progress, in accordance with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter of the University for Peace, which constitutes the International Agreement signed at the time of its founding in 1980. It carries out activities in various regions of the world and has its headquarters in San José, Costa Rica.
Earth Charter International (ECI) is the organization that drives the global Earth Charter movement by providing information, networking opportunities, and education to transform awareness into action. It established the Center for Education for Sustainable Development at the University for Peace, which coordinates the UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter, generating educational programs, activities, and research at the intersection of sustainability, education, and values.
The Center aims to highlight the importance of incorporating the values and principles of sustainability into decision-making and education. The Center contributes to the implementation of UNESCO Resolutions adopted in 2003 (32C/17) and 2019 (40C/20), which recognize the Earth Charter as an important ethical framework for sustainable development.
The Center for ESD with the Earth Charter is responsible for coordinating the ACT4SDG project from our institution.
