TEACHER EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZENSHIP

Abstract

Teacher education plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development by preparing educators with the knowledge, values, competencies, and commitment needed to address complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. As climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, environmental degradation, and social inequalities intensify, teacher education institutions must integrate sustainability into curriculum, pedagogy, leadership, and professional practice. This chapter examines the conceptual foundations of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and environmental citizenship, emphasizing their importance in developing responsible, reflective, and globally competent educators. It explores international and national policy frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNESCO’s ESD initiatives, and India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocate embedding sustainability within teacher preparation. The chapter discusses innovative curricula, interdisciplinary learning, experiential pedagogies, technology-enhanced instruction, and community engagement for strengthening environmental literacy and sustainable practices. It also highlights sustainability competencies, including systems thinking, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, collaboration, problem-solving, environmental stewardship, and responsible citizenship, while addressing implementation challenges and proposing strategic reforms.