The Implementation of Sdg 4 - Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Education on the Environment

Abstract

This chapter examines the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which calls on states to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It focusses in particular, on Environmental Education, its meaning, implementation and evolution into Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) which is specifically mentioned in SDG 4-7. It gives some examples of effective implementation in developed and developing countries and suggests measures that can advance the more effective implementation of ESD. It includes a discussion on the impact of corona virus Covid-19 which is a major obstacle to the attainment of the SDGs by 2030. It ends with a case study of a multi-disciplinary program on the environment – the Masters in Environmental Management (MEM) at the National University of Singapore, which involves the collaboration of nine faculties/schools, as an example of an effective program in ESD.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 4: Environmental Education, SDG 4-7: Education for Sustainable Development, Case study: NUS MEM program