GREEN EDUCATION POLICIES: SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE THROUGH CURRICULUM REFORMS

Abstract

As the global environmental crisis worsens, we urgently need systemic and revolutionary educational reforms. By incorporating sustainability principles into curricula, pedagogy, and institutional practices, green education policies seek to incorporate environmental consciousness into traditional educational systems. This chapter examines how curriculum reform functions as a tactical instrument for promoting sustainable development through education. It draws attention to the ways that national and international policy frameworks—such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4.7), UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020—are promoting eco-centric learning environments. This chapter also examines the policy mechanisms for incorporating ecological ethics, experiential learning, and climate literacy into classroom instruction. This chapter pays special attention to interdisciplinary approaches, curriculum content design, teacher preparation, and policy gaps that hinder successful implementation. Case studies from a few selected nations demonstrate the difficulties and achievements in integrating education systems with sustainability objectives.