The Asia-Pacific Regional Center for the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP APRC) proudly highlights the initiative “Fostering Green Consumption Through Teacher Education”, which underscores the critical role of education in shaping sustainable lifestyles and empowering teachers as catalysts for long-term change.
Background: Education for Sustainability
Environmental challenges—ranging from climate change to unsustainable consumption—demand urgent action. Central to this action is education, which provides learners not only with knowledge, but also with the motivation, values, and agency to act responsibly in safeguarding the planet. According to the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP, 2017), effective environmental education inspires citizens to adopt habits, take proactive action, and avoid apathy in the face of pressing ecological issues.
At the global level, SDG 4.7 serves as a guiding framework, emphasizing that by 2030, all learners must acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development. This includes education for sustainable development (ESD), sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, a culture of peace, and global citizenship.
To achieve this, countries are urged to mainstream SDG 4.7 across national education policies, curricula, teacher education, student assessment, and monitoring systems. Such integration not only equips students with sustainability competencies, but also ensures teachers are fully prepared to lead transformative educational practices.
Teacher Education: A Driver of Transformation
The role of teachers is paramount. They are not just transmitters of knowledge but also role models and influencers of values and behaviors. As such, fostering green consumption and sustainability must begin with equipping teachers through curriculum reform, experiential learning, and professional development.
Drawing on UNESCO’s (2017, 2018) frameworks, key competencies for sustainability include systems thinking, anticipatory skills, collaboration, critical thinking, and integrated problem-solving. When embedded in teacher education, these competencies enable future educators to empower students as responsible citizens capable of addressing complex sustainability challenges.
Education for sustainable development must be approached holistically, combining cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Teachers, students, and communities alike become co-agents of change, creating a ripple effect of sustainable practices that extend beyond classrooms.
Innovative Approaches in Practice
The initiative highlights multiple innovative teaching and learning strategies that bridge theory with real-world application. Among these are:
- Interactive Learning Tools: Incorporating platforms such as Kahoot, Padlet, and Mentimeter to encourage participation and engagement.
- Experiential Activities: Problem-tree analysis, workshops, research projects, and carbon footprint assessments, which help learners connect personal behaviors to global challenges.
- Eco-Initiatives: Programs like Chula Zero Waste and eco-schools, which demonstrate practical ways institutions can model sustainability.
- Community Engagement: Field trips, community projects, and the use of SDGs-focused games to instill awareness of local and global sustainability efforts.
- Student-Led Innovations: Poster presentations, academic services, and creative works showcasing how young learners can contribute meaningfully to sustainable futures.
These approaches reflect a deliberate move toward transformative education—learning that goes beyond memorization to instill values, agency, and long-term behavioral change.
Drawing on UNESCO’s (2017, 2018) frameworks, key competencies for sustainability include systems thinking, anticipatory skills, collaboration, critical thinking, and integrated problem-solving. When embedded in teacher education, these competencies enable future educators to empower students as responsible citizens capable of addressing complex sustainability challenges.
Extending Impact: Beyond Classrooms
Recognizing the power of education as a force for collective good, the initiative has extended its reach to diverse audiences. Workshops have been organized for Local Administrative Organizations and the Office of the Basic Education Commission, ensuring sustainability principles are embedded in policy and administrative practices. Further, lectures delivered at institutions such as the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) highlight how sustainability and green consumption transcend sectors, reinforcing their relevance to national development and societal well-being.
Looking Ahead
Teacher education is not only a pathway to greener schools but also to greener societies. By equipping educators with the knowledge, skills, and values for sustainability, we are investing in generations of learners who will carry forward the mission of building just, resilient, and sustainable futures.