Sustainable Scholars: Progress in Environmental Education

As wildfires burn forests, oceans fill up with plastic, and temperatures rise, one thing is becoming more and more clear: the next generation must be prepared to lead the planet toward sustainability. A survey of over 1,100 teachers and school leaders from 36 countries found that 70% agreed that the curriculum in their region does not sufficiently address climate education, and only 29% felt that climate education is already sufficiently covered in their school curriculum (European Union).

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In the modern world, environmental education isn't just posters or lectures, it’s around the world. Through digital media and environmental literacy, it is becoming a core part of what it means to be a student. Environmental education is a process that enables people to learn about environmental issues, solve problems, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, people gain a better understanding of environmental issues and the ability to make informed, responsible decisions. It’s more than just memorizing facts about climate change (EPA).

Organizations like UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development initiative are helping many schools structure their effort. UNESCO's ESD for 2030 programme produces and shares knowledge, offers policy guidance and technical support to countries, and implements projects on the ground. (UNESCO). UNESCO hosts the Secretariat of the Greening Education Partnership, which aims to strengthen countries’ capacity to provide quality climate change education and ‘green’ all aspects of learning. The Greening Education Partnership (GEP) is a global initiative that uses a whole-of-systems approach to help countries address the climate crisis by leveraging education's critical role. Greening Education Partnership, a collaborative platform for governments and other stakeholders such as inter-governmental organizations, civil society, youth academia, and the private sector, aims to deliver strong, coordinated, and comprehensive action that will prepare every learner to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary to combat climate change and promote sustainable development (UNESCO).

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Other organizations, such as Eco-Schools is are globally well-known programs, including 101 countries with 52,552 schools and more than 13 million students registered. Eco-School students participate in small actions such as holding a long-standing Litter Less Campaign, in collaboration between the Foundation for Environmental Education and the Mars-Wrigley Foundation (Eco-Schools).

However, many schools, especially in low-income areas, lack funding and resources to run effective environmental education programs, sustainability projects, or field trips (ECOBNB). UNESCO’s global survey showed that not all schools, especially in LEDC, can meet the standards needed for comprehensive climate and environmental education. The aim is to have 50% of the world’s schools by 2030. 

In the end, sustainable scholars are more than students who care about the planet, they are students who are ready to face challenges.

Works Cited

Eco Schools, https://www.ecoschools.global/. Accessed 31 May 2025.

Cho, Renée. “Climate Education in the U.S.: Where It Stands, and Why It Matters.” State of the Planet, 9 February 2023, https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/02/09/climate-education-in-the-u-s-where-it-stands-and-why-it-matters/. Accessed 31 May 2025.

ECOBNB. “Is There Enough Environmental Education in Schools and Universities?” ECOBNB, https://ecobnb.com/blog/2025/02/environmental-education-schools-universities/. Accessed 31 May 2025.

“Greening Education Partnership.” UNESCO, https://www.unesco.org/en/sustainable-development/education/greening-future?hub=72522. Accessed 31 May 2025.

“Survey on climate education- Result.” European Union, https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/discover/viewpoints/survey-climate-education-results. Accessed 31 May 2025.

“What is Environmental Education? | US EPA.” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2 July 2024, https://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education. Accessed 31 May 2025.