UNESCO Unveils New Tools for Greening Education on World Environment Day

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On World Environment Day, UNESCO introduced new initiatives to incorporate environmental awareness into school curricula worldwide. The announcement highlights a strategic shift towards "greening" education, emphasizing the urgent need for young people to engage actively with environmental issues.

Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General, stressed the importance of this initiative. "Greening schools and curricula is one of the best levers to tackle climate disruption in the long-term. It’s time to mainstream environmental education across school subjects, at all levels of education, with an action-oriented approach that helps young people understand their power to make a difference," she said. 

This move comes in response to a 2021 UNESCO analysis, which showed that nearly half of the national curriculum frameworks surveyed did not address climate change, and a mere 23 percent of teachers felt equipped to handle the topic in the classroom. Moreover, 70 percent of surveyed youths could not explain climate disruption, expressing dissatisfaction with the current educational approaches.

Building on these findings, Azoulay has made environmental education a cornerstone of UNESCO’s support to its Member States. The organization now spearheads the Greening Education Partnership, joined by over 80 countries and 1,300 organizations, including UN bodies, non-profits, youth groups, and private sector participants. This coalition aims to bolster educational strategies that effectively address climate change.

A new report, co-published by UNESCO, warns that despite progress in integrating environmental issues into school curricula, much of the education is still too knowledge-focused rather than action-oriented. The report advocates for a curriculum emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning to inspire real change.

To address these concerns, UNESCO is rolling out two major resources, including the UNESCO Greening Curriculum Guidance, a practical manual for the first time that provides a standardized approach to climate education. The manual outlines how to integrate environmental topics across various subjects and details expected learning outcomes for students aged 5 to 18 and beyond. The guidance underscores the significance of active learning and hands-on activities.

Secondly, the UNESCO Green School Quality Standard, developed in collaboration with various stakeholders, including other UN agencies and civil society, sets forth basic criteria for establishing a green school. It includes forming green governance committees of students, teachers, and parents to ensure sustainable practices are implemented. It also promotes comprehensive teacher training and regular audits of school resources like energy and water to strengthen community ties and enhance local environmental engagement.

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