The European Sustainable Development Week: Actions Throughout France.

The European Sustainable Development Week is a large awareness-raising operation targeting the general public, schools, and businesses. In the face of climate change and the need to change our habits, this event invites us to become more environmentally-friendly consumers.

An European event

The European Sustainable Development Week was initiated by France in 2003 before becoming a European event in 2015.

This operation organized by the Ministry of Ecological Transition mobilizes associations, companies, local authorities, and educational institutions.

It aims to raise awareness among the general public about the challenges of sustainable development and encourage them to adopt more environmentally-friendly consumption patterns. Specifically, this event aims to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

As a reminder, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted on September 25, 2015, by the 193 Member States of the United Nations. It set 17 sustainable development goals linking poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Here are some of these 17 goals:
- Ensure food security and promote sustainable agriculture;
- Ensure sustainable water management;
- Ensure access for all to reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services at an affordable cost;
- Establish sustainable consumption and production patterns;
- Preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems.

Awareness campaigns

During the European Sustainable Development Week, several hundred events take place throughout France in order to:

• Explain the concept of sustainable development to the general public
• Encourage the general public to adopt daily behaviors that are favorable to sustainable development (reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, and promote energy savings)
• Provide concrete solutions
• Highlight the measures of the Grenelle Environment.

Note: In 2022, 7,047 projects were organized in 24 European countries on this occasion, including 616 in France.

These various projects address at least one of the three dimensions of sustainable development (environment, social, or economic).

Edition 2023

This year, the European Sustainable Development Week will take place from September 18th to October 8th, 2023.

Once again, responsible consumption will be at the heart of this awareness week. To help French people become informed consumers, this event will present various concrete solutions such as recycling, repair, bartering, circular economy, and the consumption of organic and seasonal products.

Exhibitions, film screenings, and educational projects for younger audiences will be included in the program, as well as walks in natural parks and workshops dedicated to food and local products...

To find out about the schedule of activities in your region, visit the official website below.