a Learned Society fostering and advocating the UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in accordance with the three components of Environment, Society and Economy, that works with a view to providing training programmes for professionals.
The establishment of the institute was made possible by a group of passionate professionals from various countries, fields, and international organisations, including Nobel laureates, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UNPRME), UNESCO associations and centres, and higher education institutions. They collaborated to create a comprehensive certification system for professionals and corporations.
Ten Years of Promoting Sustainable Development Planning
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2016 - SDP Curriculum Framework Established
The Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HiESD) developed the Sustainable Development Planning (SDP) professional qualification curriculum framework, which is positioned at Level 6 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (equivalent to master’s degree level). It has been registered with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). “Sustainable Development Planning (SDP)” officially became a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Partnership Project (UNDESA Registration No.: 26908). -
2017 - WISDP Established
The World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) was established.
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2017 - The First | China Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Forum
On Novermbe 19, 2017, HiESD, together with the China Association of Circular Economy and Peking University, jointly launched the China Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Summit Forum.
- Keynote speakers: Mr. Xiong Zhe, Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Coordination and Guidance Division, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission; Mr. Xia Yingzhe, Director of the Promotion and Development Department, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Centre, Ministry of Finance; and Professor Lee Ngok, Vice-President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association.
- Mr. Zhao Kai, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Circular Economy, attended and delivered the opening address.
Certificates were presented to newly certified Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporations (CSDC®) at each forum.
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2017 - China International Circular Economy Exhibition
2017 was designated the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. As the Hong Kong and Macao representative at the exhibition, the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development showcased sustainable education development, sustainable tourism development, and sustainable industrial development in collaboration with the Lüliang Municipal People’s Government, the International Fur Federation, and selected innovation and entrepreneurship projects from the Institute’s UCD Youth Innovation Camp. The exhibition attracted significant attention from visitors.
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2018 - Second Sustainable Development Forum
On top of previous partners, the North China University of Technology strongly supported the Forum since 2018.
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2019 - Third Sustainable Development Forum
Mr. Feng Xiwang, former Secretary-General of the State Council Information Office and President of the Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Promotion Association; Mr. Zhu Xingxiang, President of the China Association of Circular Economy and former Director-General of the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment, Ministry of Environmental Protection; and Professor Karen Cheung presented Certified Sustainable Development Planner (CSDP®) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporation (CSDC®) certificates to professionals and corporations.
During the forum, an exhibition featuring 16 Certified Sustainable Development Corporations was held. Mr. Xie Zhenhua, former Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, and Mr. Xu Ming, former Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, former Vice-Governor of Jiangsu Province and former Vice-Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, visited the exhibition area and provided guidance.
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2020 - Special Event on Management Accounting and Sustainable Development — Online Forum on Corporate Sustainable Development Planning under Crisis
Organisers: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development
Academic support: Centre for Responsibility and Social Value, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University
Co-organisers: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Southern Weekly China Corporate Social Responsibility Research Center, China Accounting News, and Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development
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Since 2020 - Hi 17 SDGs Show
The Hi17 SDGs interview programme was launched and has since published over 100 episodes featuring CSDP®, CSDC® and RSDC practitioners advancing sustainable development across various professional fields.
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2020 - Fourth Sustainable Development Forum cum Asia Environmental Conference
The HiESD Co-organised the Fourth SD Forum cum Asia Environmental Conference with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Ms. Margaret Fong, Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Professor Karen Cheung, President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association and Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, delivered the opening remarks.
Certificates were presented to Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporations (CSDC®), and the “2020 Sustainable Development Planning Reports Complication” was released.
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2021 - Seminar on the 14th Five-Year Plan and Sustainable Development of Hong Kong Manufacturers
Organisers: UNESCO Hong Kong Association and The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong
Guest of honour: The Honourable Leung Chun-ying, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, who delivered the keynote speech.
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2021 - The IV Asia-Europe Forum on Education
Professor Karen Cheung, President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association, spoke on the theme of “ESD for SDGs in Hong Kong” at the IV Asia- Europe Forum on Education, organised by the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA).
Professor Cheung highlighted that the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development had further developed a comprehensive teaching system for Sustainable Development Planning (SDP). After several years of effort, more than 600 learners from various industries and age groups had completed training at different levels and were designated as Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®). The World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) was established to conduct certification of sustainable development planners and corporations, calling on talent from all sectors of society to participate in advancing sustainable development.
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Since 2021 - Greater Bay Area Corporate Sustainable Development Awards
Supported this award organised by the Metro Finance.
The awards include presentation of “Recognised Sustainable Development Corporation” certificates of the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners, supporting enterprises in continuously advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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2022 - ESG X SDP Integration
Officially launched the “ESG × Sustainable Development Planning × Corporate GHG Accounting × Professional Integration” course series, integrating Sustainable Development Planning (SDP) with green finance, green building, logistics and supply chain, energy management, corporate governance and other sectors, enabling professionals to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through cross-disciplinary thinking.
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2022 - CSDP Exam
Launched the Certified Sustainable Development Planner examination and certification mechanism, opening a new pathway for individuals with relevant professional backgrounds or practical experience to become Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®) and further expanding the pool of professional talent.
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2022 - Qualification Framework Official Recognition
The Certificate in Sustainable Development Planning (Elementary) was successfully recognised under the Qualifications Framework, meeting the standards of Qualifications Framework Level 3, and was included in the list of courses reimbursable under the Continuing Education Fund (CEF). This established a complete progression pathway of “Elementary Certificate → Professional Diploma → CSDP® Certification”.
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Since 2023 - SD & IT Awards
With funding support from the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, the “Hong Kong Sustainable Development Innovation and Technology Summit Forum cum Awards Presentation Ceremony” has been continuously organised. The event attracts participation from over a hundred enterprises and organisations each year, covering green finance, green building, green energy, green transportation, green supply chain, net-zero transition, resource recycling and ecological conservation, among other fields, and has become an important platform for advancing sustainable innovation and technology in Hong Kong.
The events were officiated by Mr. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Mr. Zou Ciyong, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
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2023 - Multiple Trainings Recognised by Government Funding Schemes
The Green Finance and Sustainable Logistics Professional Integration of the “ESG x SDP x Corporate GHG Accounting” course series were included in the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme and Maritime and Aviation Training Fund respectively.
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2024 - Trademark Registration
The trademarks for “Certified Sustainable Development Planner”, “Certified Sustainable Development Corporation” and “Recognised Sustainable Development Corporation” — CSDP®, CSDC® and RSDC® respectively — were successfully registered.
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2024 - COP29
At the China Pavilion of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the 2023 Hong Kong Sustainable Development Innovation and Technology Solutions Compilation was officially released to the world, showcasing Hong Kong’s practical achievements and innovative solutions in green technology and sustainable development planning to the international community.
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2025 - United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit
We participated in the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit and shared the 2025 Hong Kong Sustainable Development Innovation and Technology Solutions Compilation with the global community, further expanding the international influence of Hong Kong’s sustainable development innovation and technology experience and continuously aligning local solutions with the global Sustainable Development Goals.
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2025 - Member CPD Events Expansion
Organise diverse member continuing professional development activities and sharing sessions, including visits to Lee Kum Kee (Xinhui) Food Co., Ltd.'s low-carbon factory, Guangdong Yixiang Chenpi's 'Zero-Carbon Chenpi' factory, and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, as well as hosting the 'Talk About UN80' sharing session, Lunch & Learn online sharing sessions.
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2026 - Official Inclusion in National New Occupation List
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security released the eighth batch of the new occupations catalogue, formally including “Corporate Sustainable Development Planner”.
The release of the national new occupations catalogue is typically followed by the formulation of occupational standards and evaluation norms. Individuals who have already obtained the internationally recognised professional qualification (CSDP®) will enjoy a first-mover advantage in this standardisation process.
UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UNESCOHK) and Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HIESD) are dedicated to facilitating and achieving UNESCO’s mission, creating conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty. It strives to work towards the building of peace and to facilitate the sustainable development of society, economy and environment through education, sciences and culture.
In year 2017, a group of professionals and academics who found a common cause in advocating the UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) started to initiate a campaign to find ways and means to foster their common cause. The conclusion is that positive actions can best be undertaken by establishing an international institution of sustainable development which embraces training and certification for professionals. In so doing, the institution aims to support the international communities to set targets and indicators with a view to achieving the 17 SDGs. Supported by the UNESCOHK and HIESD, the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) was established in December 2017.
WISDP operates in the form of a Learned Society and a Research Institute, and works with a view to providing training programmes for professionals. It has established memberships and certification processes to recognize the training, experiences and contributions of individuals and corporations to sustainable development. WISDP was registered in Hong Kong in October 2017 as a Company Limited by Guarantee to drive the training and foster professional recognition of sustainable development in the business, education and public sectors. It has formally been launched in February 2018 and is striving to establish strategic partnerships with like-minded institutions to advocate the UN Agenda 2030.