A Study on the Role of Education in Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles

Abstract

Education plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable lifestyles by equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, values, and motivation needed to act responsibly toward the environment and society. This study explores how curriculum integration, innovative teaching practices, digital tools, and community-based learning collectively shape learners’ sustainability awareness and behaviour. It highlights that curriculum content on climate change, conservation, and ethical consumption promotes critical thinking and informed decision-making, while teachers act as facilitators who support reflective, inquiry-based, and transformative learning experiences. The review also emphasizes the role of technology, such as gamification and virtual simulations, in enhancing engagement and accessibility to sustainability concepts. Furthermore, experiential and community-based approaches strengthen practical understanding and encourage collective responsibility. Despite these advantages, several barriers such as institutional limitations, pedagogical challenges, student disengagement, and socio-cultural constraints affect the full implementation of sustainability education. Overall, the study concludes that effective sustainability education requires a holistic, multi-dimensional approach that links knowledge, values, practical experiences, and supportive learning environments to inspire long-term sustainable behaviour.