EMBEDDING CLIMATE CHANGE CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE CURRICULUM: PEDAGOGICAL INNOVATIONS FOR INDIAN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Abstract

Climate change is a major threat to ecological balance, human development, and social justice. Education plays a crucial role in tackling the climate crisis by promoting awareness, critical thinking, and civic responsibility. This paper examines the need to include climate change awareness in the Indian educational system through a rights-based, multidisciplinary, and legally binding approach. It discusses the constitutional, judicial, and international obligations that support environmental education in India, citing important legal provisions such as Articles 21 and 51A(g) of the Constitution and key court cases like M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1992). Although the Supreme Court has set mandates and initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 are in place, execution is inconsistent. This inconsistency stems from the lack of a legal mandate, insufficient teacher training, and differences in state curricula. The paper also looks at international frameworks like the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, and SDGs, particularly SDG 4.7 and 13.3, which highlight the global obligation to support climate education. It suggests creating a specific Environmental and Climate Education Act and integrating this education into the curriculum through experiential, project-based, and interdisciplinary methods. The paper points out the legal duty of educational institutions to promote sustainability and calls for national reforms to align with global standards such as UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development. Finally, it pushes for more robust legislative actions, accountability from institutions, and innovative teaching methods to develop climate-literate citizens. These citizens can help guide India toward a fair and sustainable future. With coordinated legal and educational reforms, climate education can shift from a hopeful goal to a constitutional necessity, encouraging ecological awareness and environmental leadership in future generations.