UNESCO’s New Tools for Greening Education
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Environmental Conservation/ Governance: Government Policies and Interventions
- •Source: UNESCO*
Context: UNESCO has launched the Greening Curriculum Guidance (GCG) and Green School Quality Standards (GSQS) under the Greening Education Partnership.
More about the initiative:
• Goal: Greening at least 50% of schools globally by 2030 through the Greening Education Partnership.
• Target Audience: Policy-makers, education ministries, educators, learners, and communities.
• Launched a New GCG: A practical manual outlining climate education, detailing learning outcomes, and guiding countries to integrate environmental topics into curricula.
• Launched a New GSQS: Sets minimum requirements for creating green schools through an action-oriented approach.
Pillars of Green Education:
• Greening Schools: Ensure schools achieve green accreditation.
• Greening Curriculum: Integrate climate education into all levels of education.
• Greening Teacher Training: Build school capacities for climate education.
• Greening Communities: Enhance community resilience through learning centres.
What is the Greening Education Partnership?
The Greening Education Partnership is a global initiative comprising 80 member states, aiming to tackle the climate crisis through education. It focuses on equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary to address climate change and promote sustainable development. The partnership emphasizes greening schools, integrating climate education into curricula, enhancing teacher training, and strengthening community resilience.
Issues with the School Greening?
• 50% of countries surveyed by UNESCO lack climate change in their curricula.
• 70% of young people cannot explain climate disruption.
India has integrated climate change education into NCERT textbooks and aims to make it interdisciplinary through NCF 2023
Recommendations:
• NEP 2020: The NEP 2020 outlines climate change as a crucial component of environmental education.
• National Curriculum Framework 2023: It defines content approaches, learning standards and assessments across all stages of education, including a practical approach to environmental awareness.
• Educating girls can indirectly mitigate climate change through demographic impacts.
• Vocational-Based Climate Education: India’s green economy requires climate education at all levels.
• Stakeholder Partnerships: Collaborations enhance the integration of climate concepts in education.
• Teacher Training: Incorporate climate topics in pre-service and in-service training for better delivery.
• Subject Integration: Embed climate concepts across subjects to foster critical thinking and holistic understanding.
• Whole-School Approach: Integrate climate action in teaching, governance, operations, and community partnerships.
• Innovative Pedagogies: Use immersive learning, experiential projects, technology, and gamification to enhance climate education.
Insta Links:
• Impact of Climate Change on Children