Education for Peace & Planet: From Histories to Futures
Monday, 22 September 2025
4.00 – 10.00 PM CEST – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT
Hybrid: The Interchurch Center & Online
475 Riverside Dr, New York, United States
NORRAG is a partner in the “Ages of Globalization” free, interdisciplinary, and interactive learning initiative inspired by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs’ book. It is designed to prepare learners worldwide to confront today’s complex global challenges and shape sustainable futures.
Anchored in the Ages of Globalization learning initiative, this gathering in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly 2025 will bring together educators, youth, policymakers, and thought leaders to explore how historical insights, socio-emotional well-being, and systems thinking can shape just and resilient futures. It will feature interactive panels, global spotlights, networking opportunities, and a keynote from Professor Jeffrey Sachs.
Key posters from NORRAG’s exhibition examining the role of education in achieving the SDGs will be displayed during the meeting.
Agenda
Please note this agenda is in EDT
10:00 – 10:30 AM Coffee & Welcome
10:30 – 11:00 AM Keynote Address and Opening Remarks:
- Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs on “The Importance of Education for Peace & Planet: Advancing SDG 4.7”
- Julia Heiss, UNESCO Chief of Section Education for Sustainable Development
- Dr Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & University of Cambridge
11:00 – 12:00 PM Panel I: Learning Across Ages – How History Prepares Us for the Future (Reflections from the Ages of Globalization)
This panel brings together youth, educators, policymakers and global partners to explore how we can learn from and across cultures and histories – and what this means for the futures of education.
Panelists (in-person)
- Olivier Bréchard, Director, Learning Planet Alliance
- Caroline Cassinelli, Youth Leader & Cultural Researcher
- Rajeev Rajam Prabhakaran, Founder, Globe From Home
- Dr. Dimitris Raptis, Co-Manager SDSN Greece / Co-coordinator at AE4RIA
- Pokpon (Mind) Visahaphanit, Student, Kids for SDGs
- Sarah Zou, Youth Eco-Ambassador
Panelists (Video)
- Yaya Dama, Teacher, Burkina Faso
- Vera Dilari, UNESCO ASPnet National Coordinator & SDG4 Focal Point, Greece
- Selena Marwaha, Student Leader, UAE
- Dorothea Mueller, Teacher, Germany & Sofoniyas Tesfaye, Rotary Peace Club Addis Ababa University of Fine Arts, Ethiopia
- Abilasha Singh, School Leader, UAE
12:00 – 12:30 PM Spotlight 1: Schools for Goal 7
This will spotlight Schools for Goal 7, a project by Global Schools in partnership with Siemens Energy, aimed at training teachers and students on energy and sustainable development through gamified curricula.
Panelists:
- Amanda Abrom, Director, Global Schools Program
- Rocio Millan Almonte, Project Manager Of Stem Programs, Siemens Energy
- Richard Bello, School Leader & Global School Program Mentor Schools For Goal 7
- Elena Martelli, Secondary School Mathematic Teacher, IIS Galilei Artiglio, Global School Advocaete
- Nouf Youssef, STEAM & Sustainability Education Specialist, School Fo Goal 7 Educators Commitee
12:30 – 12:45 PM Spotlight 2: The Role of Intersectoriality in Education for Sustainable Development,
-
Moira V. Faul, Executive Director | NORRAG & Senior Lecturer | International and Development Studies
12:45 – 1:30 PM Lunch & Networking
1:30 – 2:30 PM Panel 2: Emotional Wellbeing & Planetary Futures
The panel will build-up on the global discourse on using positive emotions as one of the key foundational pillars to support pro-environmental actions and behaviors. It will elaborate on a recent NORRAG blog series that calls for Pathways for Embedding Social Emotional Learning Into Climate Justice Education and Education for Sustainable Development.
- Haley Crim, Climate Curriculum Developer for MIT Open Learning.
- Niklas Nyblom, Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Oren Pizmony-Levy, Associate Professor & Director International & Comparative Education Program (ICEP), Department of International and Transcultural Studies; Director Center for Sustainable Futures
2:30 – 3:00 PM Spotlight 2: Climate StoryMaps – Eco Ambassadors Solutions Lab
Supported by NY Sea Grant and NJ Sea Grant, these student-led projects present innovative, place-based climate solutions through digital storytelling
- Anvi Anand, Lawrenceville School, New Jersey, United States
- Divya Arora, New Jersey, United States
- Vidya Bindal, Newark Academy, New Jersey, United States
- Shriya Iyer, New Jersey, United States
- Jungmin Allison Kim, New York United States
3:00 – 3:15 PM Meditation & Reflection
3:15 – 3:30 PM Spotlight 3: Launch of the AoG Higher Education Series
- Dr. Lucia Rodriguez, SDG Academy’s Director of the Master’s in Development Practice Secretariat