Greening Education For Sustainable Future

Greening education gives emphasis on conservation of our surroundings, environment, ecosystems, and the earth. This is the education for sustainable development, and key issues such as environmental degradation, climate change, biodiversity, disaster risk, wise use of resources, etc., are included in the teaching and learning process. Environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss are the greatest challenges that all of us on earth are facing today. All our unsustainable actions pollute and destroy the environmental resources and cause climate change. The earth’s ecosystems have been altered, parts of our planet have become unlivable, and our survival is in danger now.

Globally, countries have reached an agreement in international conventions to address the environmental and climate crisis through policies, programmes, and positive actions. However, implementations have universally been weak and at a lower level. The COP 28 in 2023 emphasised the critical importance of awareness and education in driving climate action and sustainability. Need for sustainability education.

Sustainable future

To ensure the preservation of life on earth and the ecological safety of human existence, we need to understand and maintain the harmonious relations and delicate balance between people, society, and nature. We need to understand the complexity of sustainability, think solutions, bear social responsibilities, and take necessary actions. 

Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainability education for planners, policy makers, implementers, communities, and individuals who are involved in environmental and biodiversity restoration and management and climate adaptation actions. In fact, this is the concern of all individuals. 

Sustainability education, or education for sustainable development (ESD), allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. ESD includes both formal education and training, as well as non-formal and informal learning. It will improve the quality of life in the present time without damaging the planet for the future (UNESCO 2014). Sustainable education deals with environmental, economic, and social and environmental sustainability; natural resources management; ecological systems; waste/water/energy; biodiversity; climate change; food and farming, etc. Economic sustainability focuses on alternative futures, sustainable and ethical tourism, population, accountability and ethics, corporate social responsibility, leadership and change, etc. Similarly, social sustainability deals with sustainable communities, cultural diversity, intercultural understanding, sustainability in the built environment, health, and well-being. 

Greening education

Greening education would reorient people and make them environmentally conscious and help them to understand the causes, adverse impacts, and mitigations of environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We need to bring about the individual and community transformation that is necessary to change the course of action.

Children are the future custodians of our planet. The importance of instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in young minds cannot be overstated. Green education is about more than teaching kids about recycling or planting trees. It is about fostering a deep, lasting connection with the natural world and developing the skills, values, and attitudes that will lead to sustainable behaviours. 

Green education is about nurturing a generation that values sustainability, understands the challenges we face, and is motivated to take action. We need to plant the seeds of environmental awareness early so that children can grow into adults who are not only informed but also engaged in protecting the planet. 

Children should be taught sustainability both at home and at school, and environmental and climate education need to be included in school curriculums. Greening education would help the young generation to understand the relationship between people, society, and nature. Children today are growing up in a world where they are increasingly disconnected from nature. Many spend more time indoors, immersed in mobile technology, than outdoors engaging with nature and the environment. This disconnection with nature has consequences: it reduces their awareness of environmental and climate change issues, as well as diminishes their motivation to protect their surroundings, natural resources, and the planet.

Green education creates opportunities for experiential learning. When children learn by doing—whether it is tending to a school garden, participating in a nature walk, or understanding how ecosystems work—they gain a tangible understanding of sustainability. When young people take up the case of environmental conservation, they will truly change the future and make Mother Earth better. Start green education early, integrating it into the core curriculum from primary school onwards. Incorporate activities that involve direct interaction with nature. For instance, school gardens, outdoor classrooms, and eco-friendly field trips can give students real-world experiences with the principles of sustainability. These activities teach children that their actions have consequences, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. Environmental education should not be limited to science classes. It can be incorporated into art, history, literature, and even math. For example, a literature class might analyse environmental themes in novels, while a math class could use data to examine carbon footprints or waste reduction.

It is essential to avoid overwhelming students with the weight of environmental challenges. Instead, we should empower them by focusing on solutions. Encourage them to come up with their own ideas for sustainability projects, whether it is reducing energy use in the school, starting a composting programme, or raising awareness about local environmental issues.

Launching the “Think Green, Act Green, Love Green, and Live Green” campaign in schools; each school has to establish a GREEN CLUB (GC) with a small plant nursery. A Junior GC for primary school students and a Senior GC for high school students. All students would take part in Green Club activities. This would inspire children to live in harmony with nature.

Comprehensive curriculum 

A comprehensive green curriculum can be developed by tailoring age-specific modules for different school levels, such as primary, middle, and high school, to ensure the content is engaging and appropriate. For instance, younger children can focus on simple actions like recycling and nature appreciation, while older students can delve into topics such as biodiversity, energy use, and climate change.

Schools can also partner with local eco-friendly organisations to provide hands-on activities such as tree planting, habitat restoration, and community clean-ups, alongside workshops and guest speakers.

Encouraging outdoor learning spaces, like eco-friendly classrooms or nature trails, allows children to experience the environment firsthand. Participation in local environmental activities, such as waterbody rejuvenation, waste management, and conservation of natural resources, can further enrich students' understanding. 

To amplify awareness, schools can collaborate on public sustainability campaigns using the “Think Green, Act Green, Love Green, Live Green” concept through social media, workshops, and community events. Additionally, integrating technology through interactive platforms, gamification, and virtual reality can enhance sustainability education, while tracking outcomes via surveys and project evaluations can help improve the effectiveness of these programs over time.

By embedding green education into early learning, we can cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious individuals who are inspired and motivated to protect the environment and nature they inherit. This would create equitable, bearable, viable, and sustainable development and safeguard our planet.

To conclude, I want to remind you that ‘green education’—teaching’ about sustainability—is like planting trees: we may not see the immediate results, but in the future, they provide plenty of roots, shade, and fruits besides pure oxygen.

(Shah is an environmental expert.)