Emerging academic responsibilities and opportunities for promoting regional sustainability

In English Academics have had numerous responsibilities during the centuries. However, now with global climate changes and the attendant, looming crises, it is increasingly crucial that administrators, faculty members, graduate, undergraduate students, staff members and alumni work together with governmental.. non-governmental and industrial members in envisioning, societies that are truly sustainable. The visions must then be effectively and efficiently implemented in numerous locations throughout the world in regionally adapted societal experiments that will help to ensure that our children's, children's, children's children and beyond will enjoy this wonderful planet. The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) is an excellent framework within which academics can increasingly work to make the dramatic changes that are urgently needed. The DESD can then be implemented in the context of the The U.N. Millennium Development Goals" (MDG) and the "Earth Charter" as further framing and challenging inputs to guide our education, research and outreach that will help to ensure sustainable cities and regions within the global context.