Major forest fire events in California, Australia, the Amazon,
Siberia, and Europe; melting polar ice is causing sea level rise to threaten
coastal areas and small islands; storms and typhoons are becoming
stronger and more frequent; flooding in coastal areas and large rivers;
prolonged drought and clean water crisis; deadly heat waves; climate
migration; and ocean acidification and coral bleaching in recent decades reflect an increase in
the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. Even though climate change is a normal
natural event, due to excessive human intervention, this event occurs very quickly and has a
negative impact.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) “State of the Global Climate 2023”
highlights worrying trends in climate indicators. A report released in March 2024 showed that
2023 was the hottest year ever recorded, with average global temperatures reaching 1.45 °C
above pre-industrial temperatures. The year also marked the highest levels of greenhouse gas
concentrations, sea level rise, and ocean heat content ever recorded. Extreme weather events,
including heatwaves, floods, droughts, and tropical cyclones, cause enormous human suffering
and economic damage. Nearly a third of the global ocean experiences marine heat waves at
some time during the year. Additionally, the number of people facing acute food insecurity has
more than doubled, reflecting the broader impact of climate change on society.
The environmental damage above arises from the accumulation of human activities for
reasons of development, which have triggered levels of consumption and exploitation of natural
resources that have been very pronounced in the last two decades. This excessive use has
long-term impacts, not only on the environment but also on the economy and society. In
Indonesia, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that in recent years, there
has been an increase in the frequency of natural disasters related to climate change. Even
Global Forest Watch said Indonesia lost around 270,000 hectares of primary forest in 2021,
even though the deforestation trend—due to land conversion, illegal logging, and forest
fires—has decreased compared to the previous decade. This loss of forest causes a reduction
in Indonesia's ability to absorb carbon, worsening global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as
flash floods in various regions. This incident is the impact of human activity, which should
encourage various sectors to move more environmentally and socially responsible.
Climate change and environmental damage have become global issues that require
serious attention from all levels of society, including education. Sustainable innovative solutions
are needed to change people's perspectives, attitudes, lifestyles, and interactions with the
surrounding natural environment so that the above disasters can be minimized. This at least
increases pressure on the education system. Education is one sector that has an important role
in building understanding and awareness of the environment, as well as forming a culture of
sustainability. Therefore, the vision of future education is required to be more inclusive,
adaptive, and responsible for the environment, which is a global and local challenge, especially
climate change and the sustainability of life. In this context, education is very wise if it pays
attention to two things. First, education as a holistic and interdisciplinary process. A
comprehensive educational approach, namely knowledge from various fields of
science—humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—combines to create a more
comprehensive understanding. Holistic education emphasizes that learning is not just an
accumulation of facts from a particular discipline but also involves an understanding of how
these disciplines are related and impact each other. The current focus on action and the theme
"Climate" reflect the urgency to prepare students to face the global challenge of climate change.
So education not only prepares individuals to think critically but also to act and to participate in
real solutions to environmental and social problems.
Second, education should adapt to local needs and conditions. An educational approach
cannot be applied uniformly in every place. Each community has a unique social, cultural,
economic, and environmental context. So educational strategies need to be adapted to local
conditions. A locally relevant approach helps increase educational effectiveness because the
materials and methods taught are closer to the real lives of students and their communities. This
kind of education is more contextual, which allows teaching to be more responsive to specific
needs and exploit local potential while respecting cultural values and diversity. Educational
thinker John Dewey said society could transform itself, become more democratic, and shape a
more just future through education (Tampio 2024). Therefore, universities as managers of
higher education are not institutions that are free from the obligation to answer society's
problems. A university's obligation comes with its ideal duties—Tridharma—which should be
carried out for society according to its existence. So the process of higher education (learning to
teach at a university) is not just a matter of meeting employment needs. One alternative solution
for transforming the education sector in order to form an environmentally friendly paradigm,
point of view, behavior, and culture to achieve sustainable development is integrating the
conventional curriculum and the green curriculum in every educational activity.
Universities are not just places for the transfer of knowledge; they are actually centers of
change that can develop transformative solutions to the global issues above. Universities can
create and disseminate innovative knowledge, as well as produce human resources who not
only have in-depth knowledge but also awareness of sustainability. In this context, universities
play an important role in forming a generation that cares about sustainability and has the ability
to face the challenges of climate change. Green Curriculum is an educational approach that
prioritizes the concept of sustainability, mitigating environmental impacts, and wise
management of natural resources in various fields of study. This approach allows students from
various disciplines to understand the impact of human actions on the environment and develop
solutions that support sustainable development.
Green Curriculum as an educational program and process that incorporates
sustainability principles enables everyone to become effective, engaged, global citizens by
empowering them with the knowledge, values, and skills to advance a socially just, humane,
and economically viable future. environmentally friendly, supports a healthy quality of life and
holistic well-being” (Sustainable Peralta Green Curriculum Subcommittee, 7 November 2006).
Green Curriculum as an educational program involves discussing environmental and
sustainability issues in existing subject matter such as science, social sciences, arts, and
languages. The material in this curriculum includes an introduction to the surrounding
environment, conservation of natural resources, efficient use of energy, new renewable energy
technology, waste processing, and other green practices. The implementation of the green
curriculum aims to create awareness and an in-depth understanding of sustainability in every
student, who will ultimately become a decision-maker in the future. The urgency of the green
curriculum in the Indonesian context is: environmental conditions and climate change; the need
for sustainable development; labor market readiness; and green industry.
Many universities in the world integrate a green curriculum into their curricula, especially
for study programs related to the environment, engineering, social, and business. In our internet
exploration of Europe, universities implemented the Green Deal Roadmap, which guides
integrating sustainability into academic, research, and campus management aspects. In
ASEAN, the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) is a pioneer in integrating sustainability
principles into the curriculum, research, and campus activities, as well as focusing on reducing
carbon emissions and using clean energy. In Indonesia, various initiatives have been
implemented in the curriculum. The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Gadjah Mada
University (UGM) run programs related to climate change and sustainability at the study
program and faculty levels. Universities that succeed in this mission will become leaders in the
academic and social fields, advance science, and make real contributions to global society.
They will continue to transform, innovate, and produce graduates who have a vision of
sustainability, ready to face global challenges with an adaptive and responsible approach. A
sustainable future means a world where every development takes into account its impact on
future generations, maintaining a balance between human needs and nature's carrying
capacity. Universities are the main drivers of this change by focusing on relevant research,
integrating environmentally conscious curricula, and establishing a campus culture oriented
towards the SDGs. Hopefully.
Vivat Widyatama, Vivat Civitas Academica, Vivat Indonesia and our beloved
archipelago. (@lee)
Editor – Lili Irahali
