The primary objective of the GSD (Generators for Sustainable Development) project is twofold. Firstly, it aims to cultivate awareness and empower adult learners to alter their behaviours, fostering an active engagement with sustainability (SL). The second overarching goal was to instigate Sustainable Development (SD) projects at the local community level. These projects may encompass initiatives such as implementing environmentally friendly projects, addressing specific community issues, or supporting vulnerable members of the community. Given the inherent potential of Adult Educators to become catalysts for Sustainable Development, they constitute the project's first target group. This involves positioning these "Learning and Development Professionals" as advocates for SL&SD, fostering their engagement through appealing and high-quality learning offerings. The second target group comprises their learners, who may include individuals in General Adult Education, community members seeking collaborative innovation.
Sustainability is the key concept to combat climate change whilst creating and securing social and economic welfare. The United Nations, through the formulation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), has established a framework that transforms the somewhat abstract notion of sustainability into a structured system with actionable objectives and targets. From an educational standpoint, sustainability emerges as a fundamental competency. Drawing upon the Council Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning (2006/2018), one can assert that it is imperative for every European citizen to attain a level of proficiency in sustainability. In this context, we employ the term "sustainability literacy" to denote the general competence of individuals in the realm of sustainability. Conversely, the term "Sustainable Development" is applied to community initiatives addressing specific mitigation or adaptation measures at the local level. For ease of reference, both terms will be abbreviated as SL (Sustainability Literacy) and SD (Sustainable Development). The Adult Education sector assumes a critical role in addressing both dimensions of sustainability learning, encompassing the individual (SL) and the community (SD) levels.