The Role of Education in the Realization of Environmental Rights and Sustainable Development
Keywords:
Education, Sustainable development, Environmental rights, Participatory learning, Teacher training, Educational policyAbstract
This study aims to examine the role of the educational system in realizing environmental rights and sustainable development from the perspectives of educational stakeholders and environmental experts. This qualitative research employed thematic content analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 teachers, experts, and education managers in Tehran. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed using NVivo software through open, axial, and selective coding. Thematic analysis revealed four main categories: environmental awareness-raising, environmental responsibility and participation, educational policymaking and planning, and challenges to environmental rights in education. Across these categories, 23 subthemes and over 100 key concepts were identified. Participants emphasized teacher training, integrating environmental content into curricula, leveraging educational technologies, and promoting environmental education equity. The findings indicate that education plays a central role in achieving sustainable development and safeguarding environmental rights. However, to fulfill this role effectively, the system must undergo structural reforms, adopt justice-based environmental policies, and support participatory, experience-based learning models.
Downloads
References
Abera, H. G. (2023). The Role of Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Global Evidence Based Research Article. International Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies, 03(01). https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/v03i1y2023-09
Akinsemolu, A. A., & Onyeaka, H. (2025). The Role of Green Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 210, 115239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115239
Ashida, A. (2022). The Role of Higher Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 71-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4859-6_5
Beasy, K., Smith, C., & Watson, J. (2023). Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3802-5
Chinnasamy, J., & Daniels, J. (2019). The Role of Universities and Educators in Developing and Implementing Sustainable Developmental Goals. Andragoška Spoznanja, 25(3), 47-60. https://doi.org/10.4312/as.25.3.47-60
D., R. (2024). Role of Teachers and Higher Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i01.11792
Dania, O. R., & Okobia, E. O. (2021). Staff Awareness of the Role of Education in Sustainable Development Goals. 208-225. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003133469-18
Eghrefuvwoma, O. G., Agada, S. A., Ighodaro, I. H., & Olasupo, S. F. (2024). ICT in Higher Education: A Tool for Sustainable Development in West Africa. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, IX(I), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2024.90122
Frank, P., Fischer, D., & Wamsler, C. (2019). Mindfulness, Education, and the Sustainable Development Goals. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69902-8_105-1
Grano, C., & Prieto, V. C. (2020). Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.14488/ijcieom2020_full_0010_37277
Grotlüschen, A., Belzer, A., Ertner, M., & Yasukawa, K. (2024). The Role of Adult Learning and Education in the Sustainable Development Goals. International Review of Education, 70(2), 205-221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-024-10066-w
Jermsittiparsert, K. (2020). Education Quality Management: A Way Forward to Promote Sustainable Development Goals by Encouraging Wellbeing’s and Discouraging Inequality Among the Societies. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 1467(1), 012077. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1467/1/012077
Kilasonia, Z. (2023). Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals. https://doi.org/10.52340/spectri.2023.15
Machado, C., & Davim, J. P. (2022). Higher Education for Sustainable Development Goals. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003333036
Mojekwu, J. N., Thwala, W. D., Aigbavboa, C., Atepor, L., & Sackey, S. M. (2021). Sustainable Education and Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68836-3
Oleksandr, P., Харченко, А., & Квасник, О. (2024). Education as a Goal and Factor of Sustainable Development. Theory and Practice of Social Systems Management(3), 100-112. https://doi.org/10.20998/2078-7782.2024.3.08
Palsdottir, A. (2025). Activating teenagers’ learning in geography using virtual reality: Student enquiry of local school environment in Iceland. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2024.2349427
Pant, H. (2020). Primary Education: Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4. 632-640. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95870-5_44
Patricia, P. (2024). The Role of Entrepreneurship Education in Universities to Pursue Sustainable Development Goals. Feedforward Journal of Human Resource, 4(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.19166/ff.v4i1.8129
Popescu, C. R. G., & Verma, R. (2025). Quality Education to Meet the Sustainable Development Goals. 233-242. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8679-8.ch011
Prof. Dr. Vinod Marotrao, B. (2023). The Role Physical Education and Sport Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7546135
Scott, E. K. (2024). An Empirical Study of Cultivating Innovative Practice Abilities in an Interdisciplinary Education Environment in Australia. Research and Advances in Education, 3(5), 53-63. https://doi.org/10.56397/rae.2024.05.06
Seminikhyna, N. M., & Lutsenko, O. (2024). The Role of Education in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Innovate Pedagogy(77), 221-226. https://doi.org/10.32782/2663-6085/2024/77.44
Singh, A. K., & Singh, B. (2022). Role of Education in Sustainable Development Goals. Ecs Transactions, 107(1), 11685-11696. https://doi.org/10.1149/10701.11685ecst
Soriano-Alcantara, J. M., Guillén-Gámez, F. D., & Ruiz-Palmero, J. (2024). Exploring the educational digital landscape in the Dominican Republic: a comparative study of competencies in different stages and socio-digital environments. Journal of Computer Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-024-00331-0
Vezhbovska, L. (2024). Global Trends in Educational Environment Design: From Cultural Dimensions to Innovations. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.58256/rjah.v4i4.1124
Zhao, S. (2024). Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments: A Structure for Designing Digital Educational Materials. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (Ijim), 18(23), 4-14. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v18i23.51373
Zhou, L., Rudhumbu, N., Shumba, J., & Abiodun, O. (2019). Role of Higher Education Institutions in The Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26157-3_7
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 شهرام رنجدوست; فاطمه ولی پور, پریسا ولی زاد ضیائی , راضیه جعفر پور , رها قصابی کلیبر (نویسنده)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
