Chronology

	ESD-J activities (pre-establishment to the DESD launch)	UN/Japanese government activities
April 2001		April-May 2001: First WSSD (World Summit on Sustainable Development) Preparatory Committee meets (New York)
November 2001	12 November 2001: In the lead up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (commonly referred to as the Johannesburg Summit), the Japan Forum for Johannesburg (JFJ) is formed as a networking NGO responsible for such activities as policy advocacy and information dissemination
March 2002	19 March 2002: At the 8th Opinion Exchange Forum (negotiations with government) held prior to the Johannesburg Summit, JFJ proposes to the government that "the period from 2005 to 2014 be designated the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)'"	Late March-early April 2002: At the Third WSSD Preparatory Committee (New York), the Japanese government proposes that "the period from 2005 to 2014 be designated the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)'", and this wording is included in the draft Plan of Implementation published in May
June 2002	2 & 5 June 2002: At the NGO People's Forum held as part of the preparations for the Johannesburg Summit, JFJ (Environmental Education Subcommittee) hosts a workshop promoting dialogue between government representatives and NGOs from various countries on the subject of the DESD More »	June 2002: At the Fourth Summit Preparatory Committee (Indonesia), the proposal for the DESD remains intact throughout the negotiation process
July 2002	13 July 2002: JFJ (Environmental Education Subcommittee) hosts a symposium entitled "Towards Realization of the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development'"
August 2002	10 August 2002: JFJ (Environmental Education Subcommittee) hosts "Workshop for the Realization of the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development'" August-September 2002: JFJ (Environmental Education Subcommittee) holds five workshops on promoting DESD at the NGO People's Forum at the Johannesburg Summit.	26 August-4 September 2002: The Plan of Implementation of the WSSD, one of the documents produced as a result of the Johannesburg Summit (South Africa), includes the statement that the summit agrees to "recommend to the United Nations General Assembly that it consider adopting a decade of education for sustainable development, starting in 2005" (Article 124 (d))
December 2002	December 2002: Group formed to prepare for the establishment of the Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)	December 2002: At the 57th UN General Assembly, the Japanese government submits a resolution (draft) on the DESD, which is adopted unanimously in response to a joint proposal by 46 countries
March 2003	March 2003: JFJ dissolved March 2003-February 2004: ESD regional meetings held at 15 locations throughout Japan (Sendai, Okayama, Sapporo, Kyushu, Tokyo, Chubu, Hamamatsu, Aichi, Gifu, Hiroshima, Okinawa, Niigata, Kansai, Toyama, Nara)
June 2003	21 June 2003: Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainability (ESD-J) formed
July 2003		July 2003: UNESCO announces DESD: Framework for a Draft International Implementation Scheme and begins accepting suggestions from the general public
September 2003	12 September 2003: Suggestions regarding "DESD: Framework for a Draft International Implementation Scheme" submitted to UNESCO More » 18 September 2003: Workshop held on "DESD: Framework for a Draft International Implementation Scheme"
October 2003	8 October 2003: Questionnaire on position regarding the DESD submitted to each party prior to the House of Councilors election 27 October 2003: International Symposium on the DESD: Importance, Goals, and Needs for Achieving ESD More » 28 October 2003: Workshop on "the effective implementation of ESD and ideas for improving the practical capabilities of NGOs"
December 2003		December 2003: At the 58th UN General Assembly, the Japanese government submits a draft resolution on the DESD, which is adopted unanimously in response to a joint proposal by 44 countries
February 2004	10 February 2004: ESD-J submits an action plan (commitment) to UNESCO covering activities in the lead up to DESD More »
March 2004	6 March 2004: ESD-J hosts ESD National Meeting: "What can we achieve during the coming Decade of Education for Sustainable Development?" March 2004: ESD-J 2003 Annual Activity Report published under the title "The Lead up to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development"
May 2004	May 2004: Initial call for contributions to ESD-J's draft proposal for DESD implementation in Japan
June 2004	June 2004: Statement on establishment of a structure to promote DESD submitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
July 2004	4 July 2004: Inaugural general meeting of the NPO Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J) 30 July 2004: Jointly hosted the Japanese Society of Environmental Education annual conference pre-symposium on the subject "What approach should environmental education adopt vis-a-vis ESD?" (Also exhibited at the Environmental Education Messe held in conjunction with the JSEE conference)
August 2004	7-8 August 2004: Participated in National Forum on Development Education and introduced ESD in subcommittee meeting 24-28 August 2004: Held workshop on public relations strategy for DESD in cooperation with UNESCO headquarters
September 2004	1 September 2004: Launched "ESD Reports" September 2004-: Held meetings around the country outlining the contents of "ESD Reports"	9 September 2004: First governmental meeting on Decade of Education for Sustainable Development involving related ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Ministry of the Environment; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
October 2004		October 2004: UNESCO unveils the final version of its International Implementation Scheme for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) at the 59th UN General Assembly
November 2004	13-15 November 2004: Participated in Japan Environmental Education Forum's Kiyosato Meeting and hosted a panel discussion on ESD together with people involved in the fields of development education, human rights education and educational cooperation November 2004-February 2005: ESD regional meetings held in eight locations throughout Japan (Fukui, Saitama, Nagano, Chiba, Tochigi, Nara, Mie, Tokyo)
December 2004	14 December 2004: Held a seminar on ESD in school education, with guest Shimano Michiro, Chief Government School Inspector, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology	2 December 2004: Third governmental meeting: ESD-J Chair Abe Osamu outlines ESD-J's proposal to Japanese government-officials
January 2005	18-20 January 2005: Held workshop as part of Education for a Sustainable Future conference (Ahmedabad, India) and issued the ESD-JAPAN and UNDP GEF (Global Environmental Facility) SGP (Small Grant Programme) Ahmedabad Declaration emphasizing the need for networking in the lead up to the DESD More »
March 2005	6 March 2005: ESD regional coordinator meeting 6 March 2005: DESD kickoff meeting: Let's start learning for the future More »	1 March 2005: International launch of DESD (New York)
June 2005		24 June 2005 Asia-Pacific launch of DESD (Aichi, Japan)

General meetings and other management-related activities
Policy advocacy activities
Information sharing activities
Meetings, symposia, lectures, etc. held by ESD-J (or its predecessor, JFJ)
Meetings, symposia, lectures, etc. held with the cooperation and/or participation of ESD-J